Melvyn Bragg’s newsletter…

Melvyn Bragg’s newsletter in regard to his regular programme. In Our Time, is always a fascinating read. This week it was rather alarming as the discussion centered on the potential problems caused by methane and methane hydrates in particular. Frankly, in the long turn these gasses are going to be more than just a problem as they heat up the atmosphere faster than carbon dioxide. Doesn’t look good for the planet but here is a glimmer of hope as methane can be used as a source of fuel if only the means was there to enable it.

New ministers…

Good to see Gordon Brown has attempted to attract John Cruddas into office, it’s a shame the Cruddas didn’t accept the offer, he at the least would have gained some ministerial experience, perhaps it shows the Party is better off without him. Good also to see Digby Jones & Lord Stevens given posts, very smart move. Gordon Brown is making an attempt to the give the new government fresh faces and ideas.

National Postal Strike

There was a time when I could get quite excited about strikes, not now. I think the current action by CWU members is regrettable. One hopes that this event will not be repeated. Many of us will generally feel the Post Office management needs a shake up a complete change and part-time senior management is not good enough. The Post Office should be managed by people who believe in the business and that it is not just a business but a public service.

The danger is that the general public will feel anger at what CWU members have done, the Post Office is a public service and going on strike will only hurt those who rely on it.

Gordon Brown the Historian…

I am fascinated that Gordon Brown, like me, studied History at University: apparently he has a Ph.D., in History so I am curious what aspect of History he studied; interesting too, that unlike a certain past, pompous minister he doesn’t insist on being a addressed a Dr!

The new cabinet…

Today we shall learn about the new key ministers of Gordon Brown’s Cabinet. Hopefully, whoever they are, any minister who fails to keep good standards or behave in a manner bad for the image of the new government should be fired. Ministers should lead by example.

It’s going to be another very interesting day.

An historic day…

Tony Blair’s last prime minister’s question time was absolutely fascinating, the standing ovation for him so unusual for a retiring prime minister. Clearly, someone who in the future the history books will have much to say.

Somehow, I feel things are never going to be quite the same again, Tony Blair leader of the Labour Party and its first ever prime minister who has served ten years in office. We are just not used to this, a Labour Party that has won three consecutive general elections, despite the odds, and a Labour prime minister who has led us to victory three times, amazing, absolutely amazing.

Housing issues…

Whilst it is positive that Gordon Brown has highlighted the issue of housing as a priority we think there needs to be caution on exisiting projects and those to come.

Old style social housing has resulted in estates in which people have become saddled with decline and social problems. It is not wise to repeat the errors of the past. Future housing must be mixed, there must be properties available to include satisfying the needs of those who cannot afford to buy but may wish to buy in the future, there should be properties for sale and properties for shared ownership.

We need to avoid whole streets of rented property. Any properties built ought to have reasonable space, far too many properties built these days are no better than extra large dog kennels. New housing developments should include facilities for all: allottments, social centres, community centres, sports facilities, accommodation for small business enterprises including office space.

Blocks of apartments need to include a gym, a social community space and perhaps include limited office space for rent.

Favourable mortgages should be made available to first time buyers; exisiting owner occupiers should be also have favourable terms; those who buy second homes should pay higher stamp duty this should also apply to buy to let purchasers who ought to pay higher interest rates, though of course the private rented sector is important.

Housing associations need to be democratized and brought into closer relations with tenants and leaseholders.

Stamp duty should be excluded for first time buyers, and existing owner occupiers should have reduced stamp duties.

Above all there should now be a freeze on the Bank of England interest rate.

Anti-social youths & Barnado’s campaign…

This morning comes news of a campaign that the charity Barnados has launched to attempt to try and rescue youths from a life of crime and anti-social behaviour. This campaign is most welcome, Barnados beleive that even the most troubled children can be given a new chance to rebuild their lives, there is no better organisation with years of experience in dealing with troubled youth and their proposals are constructive.

This is the time when negative reporting in regard to youth needs to be challenged and I have often thought it is time for our media to praise good examples of good youth role models and deny the oxygen of publicity to those youths engaged in anti-social behaviour. I fear though that our national media lives on negativity, it would be far better if this morning’s headlines highlighted this new campaign by Barnados.

New deputy leader backtracks…

The new deputy leader of the Labour Party is backtracking her position, she is very busy visiting the media hacks wiggling out of her programme for election. We have yet to see how the results of the deputy leadership election - she seems to have won by default alternative preferences; few people seem to have actually, directly voted for her; many more are puzzled she won! I think the decision to assign her duties as party chairman is ok, I never imagined she could be deputy premier. Perhaps the election of the party chairman ought to be an annual event on a simple first past the post electoral system?

A new dawn for Labour…

We wonder now what the new leadership of the Labour Party will do. We think some bold new policies need to be initiated. Clearly, housing is a priority, it is positive that the Gordon Brown wants a housing minister in the Cabinet. Whilst social housing may be a target for the new administration, we hope this will not be translated into dreadful estates of dull poor quality housing; that thought be given to new housing projects be a mixture: of owner occupation, short and long term tenancies and shared ownership and facilities for young and old.

We must avoid the kind of housing estates we have now. Housing associations need to be more proactive with their offices located on existing estates and the new developments. Buy to let: whilst we need a private rented market, the buy to let sector should pay higher interest rates; home ownership must be rewarded with a restoration of income tax relief, home owners with a single dwelling should receive mortgage packages with lower interest rates.