Peter Reynolds

The life and times of Peter Reynolds

Posts Tagged ‘Tory

Broken Society. Broken Britain. Brokenshire.

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A Gift To The Opposition

Given his increasingly authoritarian, “big government” stance, his misrepresentation of science and the deeply flawed, dishonest Home Office Drugs Strategy consultation,  James Brokenshire is proving himself to be a very dangerous young man.

If any coalition minister is pursuing policies that will lead to a broken society and a broken Britain, it is Brokenshire.   He is so far out of step with the progressive, liberal and intelligent direction of the government that one wonders has he been put out for sacrifice?   His attitude and ideas are those of a previous generation which had not yet made all the mistakes or suffered all the consequences that we already have.  He needs to study some history.

From Propostion 19 to the changing views of Latin America’s leaders, Brokenshire is way, way behind.  He is also in direct contradiction to the progressive policies which both Cameron and Clegg have supported in the past.

It is vital for the future of millions of British citizens, their health, liberty, freedom from crime and oppression that Brokenshire is stopped.  As a Tory I am also dismayed at the huge damage he is doing to the party.  He is making the coalition government look short sighted, regressive and stupid.   He has got to go.

See here for the story on Nominative Determinism.  What does a man’s name mean?

The Third Milliband Brother?

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James Brokenshire

I have very mixed feelings about young James Brokenshire.  He’s a Tory and so am I, so I don’t really want to be too derogatory about him.   It’s very difficult though, just  keeping a straight face, let alone seeing anything positive.  Most difficult of all to ignore is the Milliband in him.  I mean, come on, tell me I’m wrong!

One of my more erudite commenters mentioned the phenomenon of Nominative Determinism.  According to Wikipedia:

Nominative determinism refers to the theory that a person’s name is given an influential role in reflecting key attributes of his job, profession, or general life. It was a commonly held philosophy in the ancient world.

It’s not just that he looks like a Milliband.  It goes much deeper than that.  Alright, so George Osborne is right in there as well and I just know I’ve seen at least a dozen other clones.  I just can’t quite remember their names or distinguish them.  They’re the generation that’s heir to Cameron and Clegg.  They’ve gone from graduate to researcher, never had a real job, eternally trapped within the political bubble. You know the type.  And yes, our politics and our society are broken, broken because of the sort of policies, attitudes and behaviour that James exhibits.

Of course, I’m on the libertarian side of the party and James is way, way opposite.   He comes across as not just a hanger and flogger but a hanger, drawer and quarterer – and that’s just for parking tickets.   The trouble is, I fear he’s making such an twit of himself that he’s doing my party a grave disservice.   For such a young and youngish man he is a very old, very old reactionary Tory.

James is the new Minister of State for Crime Prevention.  Congratulations to him on his appointment at such an early stage in his career.  What an important job!  He does rather bring to mind all those old jokes about policemen looking like they should still be in short trousers.   Does anyone take him seriously?

He’s the government’s front man for the drugs issue.  That’s right, it’s not a minister from the Department of Health who deals with drugs.  It’s the Home Office!  Anyway, even before the current furore, I’d seen James in action in reply to a question about drugs policy.   He’s authoritarian, repressive, intransigent and far, far too sure of himself even when he doesn’t know what he’s talking about.  This is not someone who believes in “small” government.   Like the Millibands and other illiberal socialists he wants close control of our lives.  I’m sorry but the boy looks silly and he behaves like an idiot.  He’s being taken to pieces all over the internet – ridiculed, abused and condemned.  David Cameron, please get rid of him now!

The trouble is that James is trying to come over all tough and spunky but he doesn’t realise that even men of my sons’ ages have seen it all before.  Eager young politicians who think they know best when they know nothing have been making similar fools of themselves since time began.  To coin a counterfeit phrase,  I’d smoked more joints than he’s had hot dinners before there was even a twinkle in his daddy’s eye!  So many of us had thought through and argued out the drugs issue a hundred times before James even left nursery school.

I can’t really expect a replacement who agrees with me 100% on drugs policy.   What I do expect is someone who is credible, sensible, well informed and committed to evidence-based policy and truth.  James is none of these.  He is making a fool of the government.

What’s really serious is that the man is misguided.  He’s flying in the face of the facts and all the experts.  Drugs policy has huge impact on our society and we need to move away from our present disastrous and oppressive course.  James Brokenshire is the wrong man for the job.

Eenie, Meanie, Minie, Mo – Drugs Policy? That’ll Be Lib Dem!

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Only now is the depth and breadth of David Cameron’s coup becoming clear.  He has swept aside all the old politics and we voted for exactly what he has given us.  Hail to the Chief!

It’s true that now he can dump those old Tory policies that no one really wanted and we can take the good ones from the Lib Dems –

God's Herb

none more so than their drugs policy.

The Lib Dems are very, very close to the Transform Drug Policy Foundation which, however it describes itself, promotes a radical right wing solution to the drugs problem – legalise, regulate, tax.

This might seem a second tier, lower priority issue until you consider that most organised crime and virtually all street crime is caused, promoted and maintained by the illegality of drugs.

Legalise all drugs, regulate and tax their supply.  You pull the rug  from under organised crime and you take away the need for nearly all street crime.  You massively reduce the harm caused by drugs.  You take perhaps £10 billion out of the black economy.  You save several billion more on law enforcement costs.

It’s a no brainer for anyone who has the courage and common sense to think about it.  I hope Theresa May is listening – and thinking.

Rejoice!

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We Have A Future

Gordon went with great dignity and in some style.

Written by Peter Reynolds

May 11, 2010 at 7:20 pm

A Terrible Result

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This is exactly what we didn’t need.  It is a disaster.  Overwhelmingly I am dismayed that so many Britons have voted for the tired, dishonest, discredited Labour party.  I’m really not sure that I want to live in a country where there are eight million people who can behave like this.

Congratulations to Richard Drax for trouncing Jim Knight here in Dorset South and turning a Labour majority of 1800 into a Tory majority of 7500.  That was exactly the result the whole country needed.  Congratulations also to Caroline Lucas for winning the first ever Green seat.

Two of the blackest, bleakest events:  Ed Balls retaining his seat,  Harriet Harman back on the TV spouting her usual nonsense.

I feel sorry for the Lib Dems.  It is a gross injustice and we are all diminished by their failure to gain more influence.

A terrible result.

Written by Peter Reynolds

May 7, 2010 at 10:24 am

I Agree With Nick But I’m Voting For Dave

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In the last general election I wrote “no suitable candidate” across my ballot paper.  In the European elections I voted UKIP.

Fundamentally I’m a Tory but if I became prime minister tomorrow, I’d implement the following policies on Friday:

  1. Withdraw our troops from Afghanistan
  2. Nationalise electricity, gas, water, telephone and broadband provision
  3. Introduce the Lib Dem’s £10,000 tax policy
  4. Introduce the Lib Dem’s policy on the separation of retail and investment banks
  5. Start a phased withdrawal from the EU retaining a free trade policy.
  6. Legalise all drugs.  Introduce strict regulation and taxation
  7. Break off diplomatic relations with Israel until it ends the Gaza blockade and stops new settlements.

It is sad but true that a Lib Dem vote is a wasted vote.  Not only that but it is extremely dangerous.  It could result in the very worst possible outcome to this election if there is no overall majority but Labour has the most seats and Gordon Brown remains prime minister.  This would be an unmitigated disaster of horrendous proportions.  If this happens then I predict at least as much chaos as is happening in Greece.  In fact we could well be in for riots in the streets whoever wins.

The only hope for the future, far from perfect that it will be, is a Conservative government.

Written by Peter Reynolds

May 5, 2010 at 6:50 pm

The Dunkirk Spirit

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Gotta Get Home To Vote!

I can see it now.  Gordon as beachmaster in his tin hat.  Long lines of stranded tourists and businessmen queuing out into the surf to be rescued by our plucky boys and ferried home to Blighty.  Look, there’s Alistair falling over in the waves again and I can see Peter is serving tea and bully beef sarnies to anyone who’ll listen to him for a couple of minutes.

Our Fearless Leader

Ed Balls is smiling broadly as he builds sandcastles with some of the kids and his missus, Yvette, is trying out her French with some of the locals.  Alan Johnson is refusing to listen to any of his advisors as he loads more and more Labour voters into overcrowded rowing boats.

Don't Panic! Me And The Missus Are Here

The two Milliband brothers are checking who can get a place and who can’t, “Labour voters this way.  Women, children and Tories wait your turn!”

Another glorious defeat plucked from the jaws of victory.

“We’ll fight them on the beaches, on the landing grounds, at airports up and down the country.  I knew we could rely on Iceland to come to our rescue.  If the volcano won’t come to Gordon, then Gordon will go to the volcano.  No more boom and bust.  Vote Labour or die!

Don’t panic!  Don’t panic”

Labour Voters This Way!

Go Georgey Boy, Go!

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Three Men In A Boat

After all the doubters and the negative press that young Georgey Osborne was getting this morning, give him a cheer for his performance on Channel 4 tonight!

Even me, even your most rabid Tory supporter, I’ve always thought he was a bit of a public schoolboy twerp. I mean, come on, can you take him seriously?  Well I did tonight!

George was superb.  Vince’s policies are better, of course.  Alistair was – boring.

Written by Peter Reynolds

March 29, 2010 at 10:10 pm

Vince Cable For Tory Chancellor

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Mr Common Sense

What wonderful common sense and wisdom was heard from Vince Cable at the Lib Dem’s conference today.  Here is the only man justified in saying “I told you so” about the financial crisis and the only man who seems to offer a plan for the future that makes sense and has integrity.

The Lib Dems will not form the next government.  Neither will Labour.  Whatever wobbles and uncertainties there are in the next couple of months I have no doubt that David Cameron will be our next prime minister.  He would do well, if necessary, to get down on his knees and beg Vince Cable to join his cabinet.  Not only would that be great news for the country but, I believe, it would be great news for the Tories.  If David can’t see that then I suspect his wife probably can.  I am certain that Samantha will be a great asset in the election campaign.  She could start by inviting Mr & Mrs Cable to dinner.

Written by Peter Reynolds

March 13, 2010 at 2:59 pm

An Email To My Local Tory Candidate

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