More on Emissions

The Liberal MP for Edinburgh West praises the Labour Government for including emissions from Aviation and Shipping into the climate change bill. This is all very green and noble, but if implemented will bring this country to its knees. At a time when we are already facing a serious economic downturn, to add additional costs to the whole economy is simply madness.

If implemented, the cost of Aviation will rise. It’s fine for him. As long as he is MP, he claims the cost as part of his legitimate expenses. The rest of us have to pay ourselves, and for him. Add in shipping emissions and our country (which you may have noticed is an Island and depends entirely on shipping for trade) will be hobbled.

Ultimately, the Liberals can afford to make grandiose, pointless gestures because they will never have to deal with the consequences in government. The problem is that somebody else will have to. It’s time we had a bit of common sense.

Liberals and Labour block pension reform

On Monday 27th October the Liberals and Labour joined together in the House of Lords to block an amendment to the Pensions Bill that would have allowed people reaching the age of 75 to defer the purchase of an annuity for their pension.

This amendment was introduced by the Conservatives in light of the current stock market turmoils so that pensioners are not disadvantaged. The Liberals opposed the amendment because the amendment was not theirs and the Labour party simply confirmed that they do not believe that older, prudent people should have a choice of how their funds are invested to provide an income. It’s a classic case of Labour living up to “the man in Whitehall knows best” syndrome.

As a result of this, a small number of people will be forced to buy annuities which will be singificantly below their true worth resulting in reduced income in retirement all because of selfish pique and dogmatic ideology.

Just say no

It's a symptom of the Labour government and the so called nanny state that regulations, targets and restrictions are introduced willy nilly to deal with each and every new crisi that emerges.

Classic amongst these is the question of obesity. Obesity is caused (with a very very few exceptions) by over eating over a period of time.

The cure for obesity therefore is simply, reduce the amount eaten. To achieve this is simple. It requires a bit of self control and a modest amount of excercise.

The Labour Government doesn't see it like this. They look for someone to blame, whether that be the sellers of (so called) junk food, supermarkets or even newsagents who place chocolate oranges close to the checkout.

This is crazy, the solution to a chocolate orange is not to buy one. The solution to junk food is not to buy it (very often). The solution is to educate people that it is their responsibility to look after themselves.

Yet more taxes?

The Liberal MP for Edinburgh West has called for the Government to tax the holiday aspirations of ordinary members of the public in Edinburgh West. He is also calling for an increase in the cost of imports not to mention threatening the jobs of many people in this constituency.

At a time of economic downturn, when people are rightly concerned about their jobs, we do not need additional costs being loaded on to peoples shopping bills. Likewise when money is tight, and holidays are being put under stress, these proposals will simply price out of the market many people who would otherwise go on holiday to the likes of Spain.

By all means encourage more efficient use of resources, but to increase the scope of taxes when we are already too highly taxed is not the answer.

Sharia Law

There have been recent reports in the Scottish press suggesting that Sharia Law is proposed to be adopted or indeed permitted in Scotland.

This is wholly unacceptable and has no place in the legal system of this country. If individuals wish to settle disputes between them privately according to Sharia law, then that is a matter for them, but where there is recourse to the law of the land, then let it be clear that we have our law that has been established over generations according to either Roman law in Scotland or Common Law in England and Wales and these are the systems that operate.

Sharia law operates in a few moslem countries (the majority of Moslem countries do not in fact operate Sharia law) and that is a matter for them. In Scotland and the UK our system works fine, and let it continue. Those who wish to operate under Sharia Law are free to go to those places where that law operates, just don’t expect it to operate here.