Paul Crofts' Blog: Views from an independent socialist

Equality & Diversity News: Issue No.1

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Crofts) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:34:00 +0000

In this issue:

Stephen Lawrence: Justice at Last?

Doctor wins £4.5m over discrimination and harassment

First ever Government action plan to advance transgender equality

Hate crime laws extended

Can you pass the British Citizenship Test?

Test your attitudes

Actuate Training and development

Stephen Lawrence: Justice at Last?
The racist murder of Stephen Lawrence, the South London Black teenager in 1993, was probably the most significant catalyst for change in the UK on issues relating to equality and racial justice since the civil rights movement in the US in the late 1960s.

The fact that a racist murder had to occur for this sea-change to take place reflects, unfortunately, on how our society changes and responds to such challenges. Unfortunately I suspect that this will not be the only time such a murder will act as a spur for change.

At one level the recent conviction of two of the perpetrators of the crime may bring some comfort to the Lawrence family – who have waited for nearly 20 years for the criminal justice system to bring someone to account for their son’s murder. At another level, however, the focus on the two individuals convicted may imply that there is now some sort of “closure” on the affair and we can now all move on, safe in the knowledge that the zeitgeist of racism has be exorcised from our contemporary body politic. This would be a great mistake.

The death of Stephen Lawrence resulted in one of the most significant investigations ever held into racism in the UK, under the auspices of Sir William Macpherson. Its report took us in completely new directions and its ramifications are still with us. Whilst acknowledging that individual acts of racism and hate are important for us as a society to address, the report went on to say that “institutional racism” deserved even more attention and that a radical overhaul was needed to challenge racial inequality and injustice across all areas of society – particularly the institutions of local and central government. The definition of “institutional racism” was challenging and controversial, but it is worth reproducing it in full as there has been much false and misleading comment and vilification, particularly from some sections of the populist media.

Institutional Racism was defined in the Macpherson Report as:

"the collective failure of an organisation to provide an appropriate and professional service to people because of their colour, culture or ethnic origin", which "can be seen or detected in processes, attitudes, and behaviour, which amount to discrimination through unwitting prejudice, ignorance, thoughtlessness, and racist stereotyping, which disadvantages minority ethnic people"

This definition has subsequently informed our understanding of equality and diversity issues, and the legal framework underpinning it (the Equality Act 2010 - which we now operate under today) – not just in respect of “racism”, but also other forms of inequality or unfairness as well (e.g. around other protected characteristics).

Whilst we don’t hear so much about institutional racism (or the wider term “institutional discrimination”) today is probably due to the fact that it is more widely accepted and less contentious than it was twenty years ago. Nonetheless, it remains a vitally important tool in our understanding of how our society works to perpetuate and re-enforce inequality; how progress can be judged and, more importantly, a tool which can help us take action to address continuing prejudice and inequality.

Owen Jones, in a very thoughtful and challenging article in the Independent, (5-1-2012), looking at contemporary racism, said:

“But race and racism continue to loom large over British society. In the aftermath of the August riots I spoke to a number of young black men about their experiences with the police…many had endured being stopped and searched…Black people are 26 more time likely than whites to be stopped and searched…”

“… some forms of racism have actually become worse since the Stephen Lawrence was murdered. The Conservative Baroness Sayeeda Warsi was right to say that Islamaphobia now passes the “dinner table test”. A study at the end of 2007 revealed that 91 percent of articles about Muslims… were negative. For the British National Party – as is the case for the far right across Europe – Muslims are now the target of choice.”

“That’s why it’s so important that we heed Doreen Lawrence’s words. Racism and prejudice retain their ugly presence at every level of society. The fight against it has a long way to go.”

Whilst the Lawrence family may feel they have got some limited justice at last following the convictions of Dobson and Norris, the remaining legacy of Stephen Lawrence is whether or not we can rise to the challenge to eliminate the kind of inequalities, prejudices and hate that resulted in his murder in the first place. In this respect justice for Stephen and his family is still elusive – although some progress has undoubtedly been made.

Doctor wins £4.5m over discrimination and harassment
If a reminder were needed about the importance of employers taking harassment in the workplace seriously this case is it! Whilst the facts of the case are perhaps unusual – thus resulting in a record ever tribunal award for discrimination of over £4.5 million – there are clear warnings for all employers:

If you don’t take harassment seriously it can cost you a great deal of money

Individual employees who harass can also be individually liable to pay compensation

The effects of harassment on the victim and their immediate family can be devastating

The effects on workplace relationships, culture and working arrangements can be severely disrupted for long periods of time

If you don’t nip harassment/workplace conflicts in the bud at an early stage it can escalate

A Leeds employment tribunal found that Dr Eva Michalak suffered race and sex discrimination at Pontefract General Infirmary. It said colleagues mounted a "concerted campaign" to bring her employment to an end while she was on maternity leave.” The trust and three senior staff members have been ordered to pay Dr Michalak £4,452,206.60 for the sex and race discrimination. The Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust has apologised to Dr Michalak.
See : http://tinyurl.com/br3nt92

In another case an NHS manager, Elliot Browne, has been awarded nearly £1 million pounds for racial harassment and unfair dismissal against Central Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust after working for the NHS for over 34 years. See: http://tinyurl.com/6uu4mmz

First ever Government action plan to advance transgender equality
In December Lynne Featherstone, the Minister for Equalities, launched the first ever Government transgender action plan – Advancing transgender equality: a plan for action. It lays out “the vision and focus for the Government’s commitment to deliver equality for transgender people and includes firm actions across the breadth of social policy aimed at making a real difference to transgender people’s lives”.
The plan can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/85bt5ll

Hate crime laws extended
In December the Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke announced that people who murder disabled or transgender people in hate crime attacks will face life sentences with a starting point of 30 years.

The Ministry of Justice plans to amend the Criminal Justice Act 2003 so that murders motivated by hatred or hostility towards disabled or transgender victims will have the same starting point as for murders aggravated by race, religion and sexual orientation. This will double the current starting point for disability and transgender hate crime murders.
See: http://tinyurl.com/857ng27

Can you pass the British Citizenship Test?
Why not see if you can pass a version of British Citizenship test? This test (albeit that the questions are changed periodically and there is a range of different questions that are chosen) is give to all applicants for British Citizenship. It’s not as easy as you might suspect.

Have a free go at: http://tinyurl.com/6unfvp2

Test your attitudes
It is well known that people don't always 'speak their minds', and it is suspected that people don't always 'know their minds'. Understanding such divergences is important to scientific psychology. This web site presents a method that demonstrates the conscious-unconscious divergences much more convincingly than has been possible with previous methods. This new method is called the Implicit Association Test, or IAT for short.

Although the tests are largely produced for an American audience, they may give you some insight into your own subconscious attitudes – a key component of individual prejudice and stereotyping. Why not have a go and be prepared to be surprised! Don’t take it too seriously – but you may find it insightful to one degree or another.
Go to: http://tinyurl.com/27hjj4

Events and Activities in January and February
At the end of January and into February there are a variety of commemorative events and actives for Holocaust Memorial Day (which is on January 27th). For further information see: http://hmd.org.uk/

The month of February is designated as Lesbian Gay Bisexual Trans History Month. For further information visit: http://lgbthistorymonth.org.uk/

Actuate Learning
If you are looking for skilled professionals to deliver equality and diversity training you might wish to consider contacting Actuate Learning and Developmnet based in Northampton/UK. For information on their services visit: http://www.actuatelearning.com

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New Chief for Wellingborough Council... broken Herts in Herts?

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Crofts) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 10:41:00 +0000

According to the Borough Council of Wellingborough's newsletter the Link (January 2012 edition), our new Chief Executive, John Campbell, will save thousands of pounds avoiding a long journey each day from Northampton to his previous place of employment at North Hertfordshire District Council. Sounds like good news for him and the environment, although we understand he took a pay cut to be Wellingborough's new Chief. I hope its worth it for him. But may be not such good news for Wellingborough?

According to Private Eye, there may be another explanation for his move to Wellingborough. In their January edition (issue1305) PE reports as follows under the byline "Broken Herts":

"So farewell then John Campbell, chief exec of North Hertfordshire district council, who is off to run the smaller Wellingborough borough council in Northamptonshire.
Campbell has perhaps wisely decided to leave the sinking ship that is North Herts' £50m redevelopment plan to wreck Hitchin's historic town centre (Eyes assim). Rather than explain the details of the council's much-criticised secret "sweetheart" deal with developers Simons of Lincoln, he is taking a pay cut to move. His deputy Norma Atley has been left to try to explain to the district auditor exactly why the council is giving large chunks of Hitchin away to the developer for free."

Cllr. Bell, the Leader of Wellingborough Council, says in the same edition of the Link "...John is joining a council that must still make significant budget savings over the next few years. It's not going to be easy, but we've every confidence we have the right man for a very demanding task." No comment!

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Diane Abbott sage; Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Crofts) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 16:42:00 +0000

One of the best blog-comment on the Abbott saga I've read...http://bit.ly/xAeNb3

Was Diane Abbott right? Is Racism a White Conspiracy?

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Crofts) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 13:19:00 +0000

Yesterday Diane Abbott MP made an allegedly "racist" and "controversial" statement (via Twitter) that "White people love playing divide and rule". She went on to explain that Twitter is not really a good medium to convey complex messages and, in any event, the statement was "taken out of context" as she was referring to "19th century European colonialism". Despite her protestations she was forced to make an apology. But was she right to do so? Or was she making a legitimate (albeit poorly worded) observation on the way that racism operates in our society and that White people (or at least a White-dominated system) conspires to perpetuate its privilege, vis Black people, through such devices as "divide and rule"? When looked at in this way she may have made a very pertinent point, and the reaction to it touched on not just a sensitive sore nerve, but a significant factor in racism's continuing domination over the lives of Black people.

The idea that White people, or a white system of domination, may actually amount to some form of conspiracy may be difficult for many of us to get our heads around - unless we ditch popular notions of "conspiracy" (people in smoked filled rooms plotting away?) and look at the word conspiracy in a much more sophisticated and historical way.

In his book "Racism and Education. Coincidence or Conspiracy", Prof. David Gillborn (2008) looks at some legal definitions of conspiracy which I have certainly found helpful and illuminating:

"(A) conspiracy has to be viewed as a whole, the component parts - which may be unobjectionable by themselves or taken individually - are not to be weeded out and enquired into separately"

"(N)o formal agreement is required, it may be express or implied, and it is not even necessary to prove the terms of any particular agreement or plan. Conspiracy may be demonstrated by concert of action between participants all working together for a common purpose"

(Quoted from Joshua and Jordon (2003) "Combinations, concerted practices and cartel: adopting the concept of conspiracy in European Community competition law", Northwestern Journal of International Law and Business, 24: 647-81))

In the context of a conspiracy to protect and enhance the interests of Whiteness, Gillborn argues that White people will inevitable participate in such a conspiracy - whether they want to or not, whether they are aware of it or not - and all White people will directly benefit from it.

Gillborn also suggest that Black people almost instinctively realise there is such a conspiracy against them as they see and feel the daily consequences of it (just one example is the continuing disproportionate use of stop and search powers by the police against Black people). Diane Abbott was probably expressing this understanding that most Black people have about the way "Whiteness" has and does conspires against them, whereas David Miliband, who remonstrated against her, probably does not have much of a clue about the daily realities and weight of racism).

Gillborn does not stop here, however, as he goes on to elaborate the type of conspiracy that white privilege and supremacy represents: a Hub-and-Spoke conspiracy: this is one in which "many parties (the spokes) conspire with one person (the hub), but not with other defendants... individual people and different agencies (like education, the economy, media) are all spokes connected through the central hub of Whiteness ... a de facto conspiracy - by their shared "common sense" assumptions and actions that characterise them and support their cultural and economic dominance".

For a White person, like me, it is difficult to fully understand how such a conspiracy operates on a daily basis. I'm on the inside, cocooned by my Whiteness - unless I really take the time and effort to step outside and examine what is happening and get involved in challenging it.

"That's part of the strength of institutional racism... no single person or agency can be held up as wholly responsible, but to some extent the power and force of the edifice relies on them all; from Whitehall and Parliament all the way down to the newest first year teacher. I am not saying they have equal weight but they are all important; they are all spokes." (Gillborn, 2008)

In the week when two of the perpetrators of the murder of Stephen Lawrence were brought to some kind of justice, it is necessary to reflect on the lessons that we started to learn from this tragedy. In his report (following the investigation into the death and the failures of the police), Sir William Macpherson used the term "institutional racism" to describe our society's failure to tackle the systematic nature of racism and inequality. Although this term appears to have gone out of fashion of late it is still highly relevant in describing the racism and White conspiracy that continues to perpetuate racial inequality and injustice. Indeed, isn't this an example of how Whiteness has re-asserted its dominance to deny further progress in tackling racism, after an initial start a decade ago in response to the report? How quickly we seem to have forgotten the lessons and returned to "business as usual". How quickly the conspiracy reasserted itself.

I am pretty certain that this is what Diane Abbott was broadly referring to in her Tweet. She was right to do so!

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THE PSYCHOLOGY OF SANTA or EVERYTHING YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT FATHER CHRISTMAS BUT WERE TOO AFRAID TO ASK

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Crofts) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 14:40:00 +0000

A Guest post by Dr. John Kremer, Queens University, Belfast

While psychologists continue to jostle with each other in their eagerness to catch a ride on the latest passing band wagon, it may come as something of a surprise to learn that one character with considerable potential in the gravy train stakes still remains a mystery - Father Christmas. We are urged and cajoled to wrestle with applied problems and socially relevant issues ad nauseam yet Santa Claus continues on his jolly way without so much as a cost-benefit analysis. The major impact he has on the lives of many is without dispute - including small children, parents, toy manufacturers, advertising executives, bank managers and Santa not-so-lookalikes tucked away in dark corners of department stores - characters who have struck terror into the hearts of more toddlers than the original has had glasses of Emva Cream. Why are we so reluctant to pull back the cape in the best tradition of psychological enquiry? Could it be that the Ghosts of Christmasses Past still haunt the corridors of psychology departments, leaving us happily bewitched, bewildered but not really bothered about delving into the wide eyed amazement of our childhood. Whatever is the case we are left with the massive popularity of the story of Father Christmas, and the perplexing question as to why we should encourage those in our care to believe, often despite our own whispered misgivings.

The roots of the story do not seem to offer much help here. The character of St Nicholas was apparently based on two people, the Bishops of Sion and Myra, who lived in the 4th century A.D., one of whom reputedly paid a ransom of three bags of gold to save a kidnapped girl (and in the process unwittingly invented the pawnbrokers sign). A more fruitful line of enquiry begins with the version of Father Christmas or Sante Klass made popular among Dutch settlers in the United States during the early nineteenth century. The story in its blandest terms is of a mysterious figure who arrives at a particular time of year bearing gifts for those who believe. To receive this largesse requires nothing more than faith, although to be honest it is considered helpful to negotiate a realistic expectation through a third party. To the likes of Levi-Strauss or Roland Barthes surely this tale would have borne all the hallmarks of a classic modern myth, and by scraping away the surface structure, the universal logic will be revealed - perhaps concerning the fundamental nature of giving and receiving, or the structure of social relationships in general.

More of this later. In the meanwhile it may be interesting to speculate as to how the heavyweights from psychology's history may have discussed the phenomenon of Father Christmas. To Freud, "a large part of the mythological view of the world is nothing but psychology projected into the external world." The symbolism inherent in the tale of a red and white figure squeezing down a chimney flue before jubilantly emptying a sack speaks for itself, to psychoanalysts and non-believers alike. Moving rapidly on from Freud and his stocking hang-ups we next encounter the neo-Freudian, Carl Jung. To Jung, an archetype nestling in our collective unconscious would seem to describe Father Christmas very well, that of the Wise Old Man. Although not discussed in detail by Jung, this archetype could be described as the masculine counterpoint to the Earth Mother - the all seeing, all knowledgeable, helpful guru. There remains a paradox as regards Father Christmas's colour scheme however, for many Jungians, including Maud Bodkin, would see the colour red as having "a soul of terror that has come to it through the history of the race". At least that may help explain red-nosed Rudolph's unhappy peer relations.

Turning our attention from Father Christmas himself to characteristics of his young devotees, behaviorists of all persuasions would find little difficulty in explaining why children continue to believe given the very tangible rewards which are assumed to hinge on that behaviour. In contrast Erving Goffman may argue that the children are consciously and deliberately acting out a role in a well rehearsed drama, for their own benefit as well as that of their adult audience. Jean Piaget, and perhaps George Herbert Mead, may have had rather more to say about why those of particular ages seem to be more ardent and unchallenging in their belief. An egocentric outlook on life must surely help children come to terms with the logistics of distributing parcels over the entire globe in under six hours, not excepting those whose parents work for the Post Office. A further contribution could be added from outside the discipline by Karl Marx, who perhaps would have argued that the religious concepts of heaven and hell and eternity are rather too abstract and distant for small children to appreciate. Instead a more palatable opiate to begin the religious training and addiction of the tiny masses could be based on immediate reward for belief in the form of presents.

Finally there is the analysis which has its grounding in social exchange theory. George Homans proposed that all social relationships are based on the balancing of rewards and costs. At Christmas this process of exchange is starkly revealed in all its glory. Present must be carefully matched in value by present, card must be reciprocated with card. Those who break these conventions risk becoming at best embarrassed, at worst the butt of family jokes for years to come. Young children find themselves in this intricate web of exchange without the necessary social skills, nor indeed the resources, to become active participators. For older children, thank-you letters provide some recompense for distant (sic) relatives but for the illiterate under fives even this option is ruled out. This effectively leaves two alternatives. Either small children can be told that they cannot take part and therefore will not receive presents, or they can be involved as keen observers, learning the ropes without being acknowledged as fully fledged members of the system. They receive presents but as they have nothing to give in return, the individual they receive from has to be far removed from the normal exchange process.

This is where Father Christmas makes his appearance, all the way from the North Pole. He bears gifts but expects nothing in return from the child. (As fully paid up subscribers to the exchange system, parents do not escape quite so easily - they are expected to reciprocate the kindness with a token mince pie and glass of sherry.) So, when the red cloak is pulled aside what is revealed is a bearded philanthrope playing out a crucial role within the minefield of social exchange we call Christmas.

In the future perhaps more psychologists can come forward to help to advance our understanding and interpretation of Father Christmas, but let's face it, if you believe even half of these interpretations then presumably you would believe anything, including flying reindeer. At the end of the day I am left wondering if this isn't one stone that is better left unturned. Or as the blues singer Memphis Slim so deftly put it, "After all is said and done, Only fools have fun.”

Adult male bib for BNP members

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Crofts) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 13:25:00 +0000

Second Wellingborough Diggers Festival 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Crofts) — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 19:17:00 +0000

The Second Wellingborough Diggers Festival supported by The Co-operative Society, will take place on Saturday 10th March 2012. The event will start at 7.30pm and will be held at Gleneagles Social Club, Grafton Close, Wellingborough, Northants, NN8 5WA.

The evening of entertainment, to commemorate Gerrard Winstanley and The Wellingborough Diggers, will open with one of Northamptonshire's finest poets. Michael Buchanan will be performing poems from his album "Life Lines" plus others. He describes himself and his influences as:

"A tractorist and poet, not a description you hear every day! My arrival at this point is via an interesting route:- farm worker, trades union activist, father, head greenkeeper, community artist, estate agent, grandfather - all of these things have had an influence on my poetry. While not stuck in the past, I do mourn for the lost values of skill, honour, craftsmanship and truth."

Leon Rosselson

From London singer/songwriter Leon Rosselson, "Who Turned The World Upside Down", will also be performing. He has been at the forefront of songwriting in Britain for over 50 years. His songs range from the lyrical to the satirical, from the personal to the political, from the humorous to the poignant. Tim McGuire, Whoever Invented the Fishfinger, Don't Get Married, Girls, Stand up for Judas, The Neighbours' Cat, Conversation on a Mobile, My Father's Jewish World, The World Turned Upside Down - no other British songwriter has written so many finely crafted songs over so many years, covering such diverse subjects and using such a variety of forms.

He has written 17 children's books and produced 12 CDs and 2 songbooks. A 4 CD box set, 72 songs, 5 hours of music, covering 5 decades of songwriting, with an 80 page booklet containing copious notes on the personal and political backgrounds to the songs, was released by Fuse Records

Entertainment will close with local duo The Geripatricks. See: http://tiny.cc/bsfj6

Early Bird Tickets: Order NOW!

For a discount on this event "early bird" tickets will go on sale between 31st November - 31st December 2011. Please send a stamped addressed envelope and cheque payable to Independent Socialists of Wellingborough to Jacqui Norton, P O Box 6879, Wellingborough, NN8 3YJ. Please mark your envelope Diggers Festival.

Early Bird Tickets: £8 / £7 cons

After 31st December 2011 Ticket Prices: £10 / £8 cons

Any further enquiries please email Jacqui at jacqui@jnpromotions.biz

Let's make the second festival an even greater success than the first!

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Negative Credit Default Swaps. Heard of them? You should have!

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Crofts) — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 09:25:00 +0000

An interesting programme on BBC Radio 4 the other evening gave me, for the first time, an insight into Negative Credit Default Swaps (NCDS). Like me you may not of heard of them, but they are essentially bets taken out on a Credit Default Swap (CDS) - which is an insurance policy to protect someone if someone (or country) defaults on a debt. Confused? I'm not surprised. These things are not really discussed amongst the sort of people I mix with - perhaps they should be!

An on-line journal Investapedia (see http://www.investopedia.com/articles/optioninvestor/08/cds.asp#axzz1RGDdr8Yc) gives some insight into CDSs, a financial market estimated to be worth $45 Trillion (yes, Trillion!). On top of this market sits a further casino of betting called NCDSs.

What this article does not say, however, but the BBC programme did, is that CDSs and NCDSs are one of the major causes of the financial crisis that we are in, and in particular for countries like Greece and Ireland, since those who hold NCDSs have been lobbying hard to force a default on Greece's debt by insisting on severe measures against them and lobbying Governments to up the interest changed on the debts that Greece owes, or on future loans they may wish to take out. Why is this?

NDFSs are held by major global financial institutions who have a vested interest in Greece defaulting on its debts as this would then result in those who hold the debt claiming from those who sold them CDSs. Those who have placed bets on CDSs having to be paid out (NCDSs) gain substantially as their "number will have come up" in the international financial lottery game.

So (you still with me?), if a country like Greece defaults on its debts, those who hold CDFs loose money. On the other hand those who hold NCDSs will win. If Greece doesn't default, those who own CFSs win (because they get the insurance premiums, but don't have to pay out on the policy). But if Greece doesn't default those who own NCDSs loose!

So, who owns the debts, the CDSs and NCDSs? Surprise, surprise - they are all owned by different part (and sometime the same parts) of the international financial system. So, who wins if Greece defaults? Part of financial system. And who wins if Greece doesn't default (because of austerity measures in other countries to under-right the losses to those who own CDSs)? Parts of the financial system!

Who losses if Greece defaults? The Greek people - as their economy nose-dives even further into recession. And who looses if Greece doesn't default (because of the severe austerity measures demanded by the financial system to get loans)? Well, the Greek people (and ordinary people across Europe and elsewhere) of course - silly me!

So its all a little less confusing now - isn't it?

Postscript: I hope that my understanding of this complex area of international finance is correct - if it isn't, I am sure someone somewhere may provide the necessary illumination!

Read more: http://www.investopedia.com/articles/optioninvestor/08/cds.asp#ixzz1RGFCTZoc

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Tory lies on the cost of public sector pensions

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Crofts) — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 09:26:00 +0000

Thanks to Rab at his "Media Studies is Shit" blog:

This is the exchange between Cabinet Office Minister, Francis Maude (FM) and interviewer, Evan Davis (ED) on BBC Radio 4′s Today programme on 30 June 2011. You can find it elsewhere but I just wanted to cut and paste it into this blog so that I (and you) can find it easily everytime you need to be reminded what a shower of lying fucking bastards are running the country…

ED: I want to just ask about your credibility. The prime minister said the other day [that the pension system is in danger of going broke]. Do you stand by that claim?

FM: Well, I’ll just quote what Lord Hutton said, the former Labour pensions secretary, when he did his report. He said very clearly the status quo is not tenable.

ED: That’s not a quote, is it. Because I did my little control f key search on the word tenable [ie, a word search] on his report [and] couldn’t find it in his report.

FM: He has said that the system is not tenable.

ED: Did you say that it was going broke if nothing was done. Because I can only find that graph which shows the cost falling in terms of GDP. It has been repeated so often that it’s unaffordable, it’s out of control. I just can’t see it in his report. He doesn’t say it’s unaffordable. He says it’s not fair. And that’s a very different justification for reforming pensions than it’s unaffordable.

FM: And he said that if we want the system of defined benefit pensions, which few people elsewhere have, to be sustained into the future, long-term reform is needed.

ED: Is it unaffordable?

FM: It will be unless we make these changes.

ED: That’s not what he says.

FM: Well it will be. The cost to taxpayers of supporting public sector pensions has gone up by a third. It’s £32bn a year. What Lord Hutton said in his report is that the extra costs of people living longer – because the average 60-year-old today is living 10 years longer than they did in the 1960s.

ED: Have you read the report?

FM: Yes, of course I’ve read the report.

ED: Can you tell us why does it show the cost falling over the decades in terms of the proportion of GDP going to public sector pension recipients? Just explain why it’s going down, because if you’ve read the report you will know the answer.

FM: The answer is that the expenditure on pensions by the taxpayer has increased by a third.

ED: Why is it going down? In his report, the big picture is it’s going down. Why is that? Just explain to the public why the cost is going down.
FM: Well, the cost to the taxpayer is going up. That’s the point.

ED: As a proportion of GDP?

FM: The cost of the increase, the cost of paying pensions to people who are living longer, which is obviously good news – you cannot continue to have more and more people in retirement being supported by fewer and fewer people in work. That’s why it’s so important that we’re going to ask people, if you want to continue to have very good pension schemes which are a guaranteed level of pensions available to few others, that’s got to be paid for by higher contributions by those who are going to have those pensions, and to ask them to draw those pensions later.

ED: I’m going to read you a line and ask you whether you think the account you’ve given is the same as the one he gives. “There have been significant reforms to public sector pension schemes over the last decade. Some of these changes have reduced projected benefit payments” – blah, blah, blah – “Projected benefit payments fall gradually to around 1.4% of GDP after peaking in 2010-11 at 1.9%.” That’s just saying it’s not unaffordable, we don’t want to afford it. It’s cheaper. It’s going to be 25% cheaper in the next few decades in terms of the burden on GDP than it is at the moment.

FM: What he’s saying is that long-term reform is needed.

ED: Absolutely. For different reasons.

FM: The point is, there’s been widespread pension reform across the economy. People in the private sector have seen old, defined benefit schemes disappear. What John Hutton has said – and we’ve totally agreed with – is we do not want to see a race to the bottom.

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Protest against street-lights switch off in Wellingborough

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Crofts) — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 17:37:00 +0000

Click on photo to link to photo album

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Stop the lights going out. Adopt a street light today!

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Crofts) — Fri, 27 May 2011 11:16:00 +0000

For more information about this campaign go to: http://tinyurl.com/3rmvmfu

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Cuts are not the cure: Video from Unionfilms

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Crofts) — Sun, 08 May 2011 18:36:00 +0000

Cuts Are Not The Cure from Unionfilms on Vimeo.

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BNP Humiliation continues across Northamptonshire. But England moves rightwards

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Crofts) — Sat, 07 May 2011 17:36:00 +0000

The election results for Borough and District Councils across Northamptonshire are now in .

The percentage of votes for the BNP across the County varies from a maximum of 8.4% in Corby (Rowlett) to a minimum of 3.07% in Northampton (Delapre). Overall the average for the BNP across the county was 5.13%. This compares with percentages at the last local elections of double this. Their vote across the county has virtually collapsed. In addition this is bad because the BNP had free reign as the sole standard bearer of the "fascist/far right", with no candidates from the English Democrats or UKIP in competition with them.

The BNP must be particularly disappointed (gutted?) with their vote in Northampton (Westone). This was an area they had focused huge resources and effort over recent months in trying to stir up hatred and prejudice against a planning application for a Muslim community centre. Their "reward" for all this effort came to virtually nothing! The planning application was also passed!

The full list of BNP percentages in Northamptonshire:

Corby East 4.6%
Corby (Rowlett) 8.4%

Kettering (Avondale/Grange) 6.8%

Northampton (Delapre) 3.07%
Northampton (Kingsthorpe) 5.39%
Northampton (Westone) 6.43%

Rushden (Hayden) 3.56%
Rushden (Spencer) 4.86%
Rushden (Pembereton) 4.97%

Wellingorough (Brickhill) 3.95%
Wellingborough Queensway) 3.95%
Wellingborough (Redwell East) 5.58%

A big "thank you" must be extended to all those people who devoted time and effort in opposing the BNP through Hope Not Hate campaigning. Well done!

Despite this set-back for the BNP we must be eternally vigilant to the activities of the far-right/neo-fascists. They have not gone away - they are just licking the their wounds.

It must also be of concern that (as the BNP rightly say from time to time) their reactionary policies are often adopted by other parties as the general political culture in England (in particular) moves rightwards under this ConDem coalition. The collapse of the Liberal Democrat vote has benefited the Tories and will enable them to move even further to the right. What the LibDems will do now (both as a political party and as part of the government) is anyone's guess - but whatever they do it will be as a consequence to a growing melt-down in support. They are between the devil and the deep-blue sea. But the future for progressive, socialist, politics is also now very much weaker. There are also few signs that (New?) Labour is recovering to any great extent and Left/Green/Progressive/Socialist groups outside of the Labour Party are splintered and divided.

I remember the 1980's. They were bleak days indeed during the almost total hegemony of Thatcherite policies and government. It looks increasing like the the next five to ten years could be similar - although potentially far worse - as Cameron and Co (with Clegg providing a "liberal" veneer) seems even more determined than Thatcher to shift even more wealth, income and power towards the private sector and the rich and devastate public services in the process. The BNP (or their equivalent) may well find new ways to exploit the dissatisfaction that will emerge - but by playing on people's worse fears, prejudices and insecurities to set one group against another - rather (than as the Left seeks) to unite all peoples in struggle against injustice irrespective of their race, colour or religion.

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Election Results from Wellingborough: BNP humiliated; Labour make small gains

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Crofts) — Fri, 06 May 2011 09:51:00 +0000

The full election results for the Wellingborough Council elections can be found at the following web-site: http://tinyurl.com/6fvzt3k.

It is clear that the results represent a small advance for the Labour Party - moving from five Councillors to nine - however well short of the Conservatives, who still dominate the Council.

The biggest shock of the night though was the humiliation of the BNP whose percentage of the vote dropped dramatically from previous local elections and they came bottom of the poll in all three of the Wards where they stood. The full election results for the three Wards they stood in was as follows:

Brickhill Ward
Allebone Con 948 Elected
Ashton Lab 713
Coombe Lab 618
Hornett Green 385
Lawman Con 926 Elected
Simmons Con 783 Elected
Walker BNP 180 (3.95%)

Redwell East
Abram Lab 519
Harrington Con 964 Elected
Robinson BNP 146 (5.58%)
Warwick Con 988 Elected

Queensway Ward
Callnon Con 518
Dean Con 562
Henley Lab 644 Elected
Hornett Green 159
Robinson BNP 145 (3.95%)
Scarborough Lab 574 Elected
Walia Con 490
Watts Lab 575 Elected

Even the local BNP themselves acknowledge the scale of this humiliation with a classic of understatement: " it proved not to be a good day at the polls for the British National Party".

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Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings...

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Crofts) — Sun, 01 May 2011 19:06:00 +0000

Does this child need airbrushing?

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Say "NO" to mass hysteria

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Crofts) — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 15:26:00 +0000

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ITV Wales report on BNP Qur'an burner, BNP candidate and WDL supporter

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Crofts) — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 15:13:00 +0000

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An alternative "take" on modesty and the Burka/Niqab ban in France

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Crofts) — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 15:02:00 +0000

The cartoon is from the Daily Telegraph (now that's a pleasant surprise!).

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Well, there you have it. Going, going, gone!!

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Crofts) — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 17:04:00 +0000

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How Fair is Britain?

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Crofts) — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 15:57:00 +0000

'How Fair is Britain?': Conference on Saturday, March 19th at the University of Northampton

This is the question posed by the Equality and Human Rights Commission in its 700 page anatomy of disadvantage in the 21st century published in 2010. In the context of the new Equality Act 2010, and also the Government's proposals around the "Big Society" and the future for public services in particular, this conference couldn't be more timely. The aim of this conference is to engage with these issues by drawing together academics and professionals/practitioners to look at challenges, and outline solutions, to make Britain fairer, based on how far we have come over the past 12 years.

The Conference will address the following areas of enquiry:

• Fairness and the Criminal Justice System
• Fairness and Education
• Fairness in Social Care/Local Government
• Fairness in Health
• Fairness in Sport

Speakers during the day:

• Anna Henry, Equality and Human Rights Commission
• Professor Andy Pilkington, The University of Northampton
• Lystra Hagley-Dickinson, The University of Northampton
• Manny Barot, Ex-Police Officer with Leicestershire Police
• Dr. Fiona Warner-Gale, University of Lincoln
• Surinder Sharma, Department of Health
• Dave Coppock, Aimhigher Nottinghamshire
• Dr. Jane Callaghan, The University of Northampton
• Martin Pratt, Luton Borough Council
• Floyd Douglas, Northamptonshire County Council
• Dr. Daniel Burdsey, Brighton University
• Cyrille Regis MBE, Ex-professional footballer and England International
• Ben Cohen MBE, Ex-England and Northampton Saints rugby player, currently at Sale

Details about the conference, including biographies of the speakers and a registration form, are available for download.

Further details about 'How Fair is Britain?' Conference

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The Spirit Level: Prof. Richard Wilkinson to speak at the University of Northampton

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Crofts) — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 12:09:00 +0000

The joint-author of "The Spirit Level", Prof. Richard Wilkinson, will be speaking at the University of Northampton on Wednesday, March 16 at 7.30 pm (in the Holdenby Lecture Theatre 1, Park Campus). This is a free public lecture organised by the University's Chaplaioncy Team as part of the University's Diversity Festival. All are welcome - you just turn up.

For further information about "The Spirit Level" see: http://www.equalitytrust.org.uk/

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The Spirit Level; why equality is better for everyone

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Crofts) — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 18:17:00 +0000

Prof. Richard Wilkinson talks to the European Parliament's European Left Group about his book "The Spirit Level". See the video at:
http://www.guengl.eu/showPage.php?ID=9274

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Wellingborough: Residents are worried over "devastating" cuts

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Crofts) — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 09:41:00 +0000

Northants Evening Telegraph 11-2-11

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My intended speech to Wellingborough Council last night in full

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Crofts) — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 15:19:00 +0000

My intended speech to Wellingborough Council last night in full, but was prevented from delivering. See: http://tinyurl.com/6j3oh3w

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Councilllors Alternative Budget to Beat the Cuts

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Crofts) — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 14:33:00 +0000

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