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Yearly Archives: 2019
Names will never hurt him
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/oct/19/eu-will-grant-brexit-extension-if-johnson-sends-letter-says-brussels?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
Let’s break these promises
Labour’s 2017 manifesto promised an end to free movement and that, instead of the Tories’ £30,000 salary threshold that migrants need to be earning before they dare to take even one step on to our territory, a Labour government would ensure that migrants would have “no access to public funds”. These are promises that should be broken. Like many Labour Party members I’m in favour of free movement, both for me and for others. And as for the second promise, here’s an example of what “no access to public funds” means in practice, It’s taken from Mike Cole’s book “Racism”:
As a direct result of the 2007–08 financial crisis … increasing numbers of people in Peterborough were forced to become homeless, and resorted to squatting in back yards or setting up desperate makeshift camps, which were reminiscent of shanty towns, on roundabouts and in woods. By 2010 it was estimated that as many as 15 camps were scattered around the city. In the same year, a project that was the first of its kind in the country was launched in Peterborough. It involved rounding up homeless migrants and attempting to force them to leave the United Kingdom. The then immigration minister Phil Woolas stated: “People have to be working, studying or self-sufficient and if they are not we expect them to return home …. This scheme to remove European nationals who aren’t employed is getting them off the streets and back to their own country.” Stewart Jackson, a local Conservative MP, described them as “vagrants” and remarked: “I don’t know how these migrants are surviving sleeping rough on roundabouts and bushes but they are a drain on my constituents and taxpayers …. If they are not going to contribute to this country, then, as citizens of their home country, they should return there.”
Typical Tory language? Yes, but Phil Woolas was a Labour minister and MP for Oldham East. Labour must take “no access to public funds” out of its plans for the next manifesto, out of its lexicon of policies and out of its collective head—except as a no-go area.
Will the EU get Johnson off the hook? Plus – the Queen opens parliament
I saw something today that suggested the EU itself might offer an extension of the deadline to Brexit, apparently without Johnson having to ask for one (which at the moment he is claiming he won’t do, even though he is legally obliged to). This could get him off the hook and save him from a second round of unlawful behaviour. But would he be off the hook if he refused the offer? I can see lawyers making pot loads from this at multiple court hearings, appeals, Scottish appeals, and then Supreme Court rulings, well into next year! But I may be getting too feverish and reading too much into a BBC report. The trouble is, no scenario is too outlandish!
Talking of outlandish, I just saw the opening of parliament: gold coaches, sparkling jewellery, weird outfits, funny hats, and an out-of-tune band. This is the 64th time she’s done it. And she still didn’t laugh! I wanted her to fling off the crown and shout, “Oh come on, bring on the clowns!”
But then, I suppose, they were already there.
More Evidence of the Prescription Medications Crisis
More from Jayne
Following Mondays post of my personal experiences last week, I’ve been collating some of the evidence showing just how big a problem this is; the conditions below in Bold are just some of the Health problems affected :
Chemist dispensers complain shortages of Drugs are “killing” them
That is sad BUT ‘killing THEM? Let us focus on outcome of the sudden unavailability of a drug such as Adalat which controls blood pressure and angina and, or, Furosemide used to treat high blood pressure, heart failure and oedema.
And just what will happen when patients who rely on Antidepressants, drugs for Chronic and Acute Pain Relief, to control their Epilepsy, and women taking HRT suddenly find themselves Without their Pharmaceuticals?
Hidden within another article regarding medication shortages – Medicine shortages force government to limit HRT drug exports it was reported the Department of Health…
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Chronic Illness and Prescription Medication – No MEDS No LIFE
From Jayne Linney
I am currently recovering, very slowly, from a period of withdrawal. Not from illegal substances but from unobtainable prescription meds! We’ve all seen the Post Brexit warnings about this but I can assure you after discussions with several independent and high street pharmacists ALL medication is difficult to get. I spent 5 days last week totally and immediately without my high dose Preganalin (an epilepsy drug also used to control nerve pain); and can honestly say I can not ever remember feeling as ill, I literally had to stop myself swallowing packets of diazapin, please ignore spelling I’m still really fuzzy.
Symptoms included Gastric flu, an acute depression attack, anxiety, uncontrollable shakes, flushes and chills and total inability to function.
Very fortunately for me on day 5, Friday, my friend after chasing around the City managed to get some tablets on Friday pm.
Within 4 Hours, the nausea, and the…
View original post 230 more words
This has to stop — before it’s too late
House of Commons Speaker John Bercow was unable to stop Boris Johnson’s inflammatory language on the day, confining his “advice” on restraint to “all colleagues”. It wasn’t “all colleagues” that needed a lecture. It was the prime minister. And the Attorney-General. A double act to end all double acts, promoting division and hatred and provoking violence. Apparently the rules on appropriate parliamentary language allow this. I wrote the following to my Labour MP:
“I watched Boris Johnson’s performance in parliament yesterday with growing horror. His language and, when challenged, his insistence on continuing to use it (and even make it worse) is becoming more frightening. The “Surrender Act” is used to provoke anger and it will in the end provoke violence. From the time of Enoch Powell (and before, of course, but I’m talking about within my memory) whenever provocative language is used the result is an outbreak of violence. The parallel with Powell seems to me appropriate, given their shared racism. When challenged, Johnson simply repeats the insult (in this case going from “the Surrender Act” to “the Intimidation Act” to “the Capitulation Act”. Both Johnson and Geoffrey Cox set up a “Parliament versus the People” narrative, which is really a fascist narrative. I realise that we shouldn’t use that word carelessly, but I agree with the Labour MP (I can’t remember who it was) who did use it yesterday. As people said yesterday, another horror like the murder of Jo Cox could happen as a result of all this.
What can be done? Bercow’s semi-rebukes to Johnson (conveyed through admonitions “to all colleagues”) have no effect. A friend of mine has written to his Tory MP to protest, which seems an excellent idea, particularly if the practice spreads. Can you and others who share the disgust at Johnson’s language and attitude use Urgent Questions to keep up the pressure on Johnson, debates, quoting from constituents’ concerns (you’re welcome to use anything in this email that might be useful) …”
If you have a Tory MP, please write to them. Another friend of mine has signed a petition to his Tory MP. But write to your Labour or LibDem MP too. If you can, start a petition, organise a protest.
Good luck to Bercow’s meeting. But it must point the finger where it has to be pointed—at Johnson.
The things they say (6)
“I have no emotional attachment to the backstop. But I made clear that I do have an intimate commitment to its objectives.” – Jean-Claude Juncker
It’s a soap opera I tell you. And ever so slightly kinky!
EU citizens, present and future: what to do to prepare for Brexit
Here is a link to the government’s latest policy document on immigration arrangements after a no-deal Brexit on 31 October. I comment here on some aspects of these arrangements. The first point to make is that if you are an EU citizen who lives here now but you haven’t yet applied for Settled Status you need to do so now. The best way to do this is through a solicitor. You can do it without one, but I don’t advise it. The Home Office has always operated with a mixture of hostility and incompetence. Under Johnson and the new Home Secretary, Priti Patel, the incompetence levels remain the same but the hostility levels are higher. Don’t take any risks. This warning also applies to people coming here after Brexit. The following are my comments and quotes from the document:
- Anyone moving to the UK from the EU after Brexit “will be able to move to the UK and live, study, work and access benefits and services as they do now” – until 31 December 2020. If they want to stay longer they will have to apply for a new kind of status, called Temporary Leave to Remain (TLR). If they get TLR it will give them only 36 months.
- After January 2021, there will be “a new, Australian-style points-based immigration system”, which the government describes here as a “fairer immigration system that prioritises skills and what people can contribute to the UK, rather than where they came from.” That sounds fair at first, partly because it seems to include all migrants, but it actually limits your chances of staying because the skills you have, and get “points” for, are only the skills that will get you a salary of at least £30,000 a year (according to a government policy announced earlier). If you have skills that earn less than that, you won’t be able to stay.
- EU citizens with TLR “will only be required to apply to the new points-based immigration system when their 36 months’ Euro TLR leave expires”, although they can do it earlier. But if they do not “meet the … criteria under the new [points-based] immigration system or otherwise have a right to remain in the UK, they will be expected to leave the UK when their Euro TLR expires. Euro TLR will therefore only provide a temporary stay in the UK for some EU citizens.”
Make no mistake: “they will be expected to leave the UK” is not friendly advice: “EU citizens and their family members who move to the UK after 31 October 2019 will need to have applied for a UK immigration status (whether Euro TLR or under the new, points-based immigration system) by 31 December 2020. Otherwise, they will be here unlawfully and will be liable to enforcement action, detention and removal as an immigration offender.”
- “enforcement action” = they will take you from your home;
- “detention” = they will put you in prison;
- “removal” = they will force you onto a plane and fly you out
Here is the government document:
The things they say (5):
“We intend to sabotage any extension. The ‘surrender bill’ only kicks in if an extension is offered. Once people realise our plans, there is a good chance we won’t be offered a delay. Even if we are, we intend to sabotage that too.” (A Downing Street source, quoted in The Guardian)
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