What Britain needs is a General Election. No, not the excuse for democracy that we have just had. Not one where only one in five of the population got the government for which they voted. Not one where the whole time was spent throwing personal insults. Certainly not one that ignored the major issues facing Ryedale, Britain and the whole World. Continue reading Ryeview – May 2005
Congratulations! Congratulations to the Labour Government for introducing the minimum wage. That isn’t the approach expected by one politician to another political party. The minimum wage is however a step in the right direction albeit decades overdue. It is a lifeline for many people in Ryedale. An immense pity for the low paid is that the minimum wage is not pitched at a level that provides a living wage. Continue reading Ryeview – March 2005
Ryedale people live in houses. They are our homes – they are not an investment. Continue reading Ryeview – February 2005
Ryedale people live in houses. They are our homes – they are not an investment.
The property market is viewed as part of the British Economy. When house prices fall by Continue reading Levy heavy taxes on second homes
The Indian Ocean tsunami has underlined one thing: people throughout the UK are generous. Meanwhile where are the politicians? – nowhere. British overseas aid is 0.4% of GDP. It is lower than we achieved in 1997. The Third Party aims to achieve the UN target of 0.7% over 10 years. People are giving money now – not in 10 years. The public are ahead of the politicians and the undemocratic institutions. Continue reading Ryeview – January 2005
Why does the Council Tax need to be reduced? It is an unfair tax. It penalises those on low incomes. Over the years the Council Tax in Ryedale has increased by well above the rate of inflation. Incomes have not risen by a proportional amount. The state Retirement Pension has risen even less. In Ryedale there is a large number of people who are retired or on a minimum wage. This of course makes the problem worse. Continue reading Ryeview – December 2004
Have you ever needed a phone box? You may not be able to use one in the future. The reason given for closing BT public phone boxes is that they are not profitable. British Telecom is not ‘allowed’ to subsidise their ‘existence’ using profit from domestic telephone lines. They are not ‘allowed’ to run them at a loss. Continue reading Ryeview – November 2004
Being caned at school was a medal to be worn with pride. If ‘street cred’ had existed it would have received a boost. Ties were worn thin and long – the opposite of the authority view. Doing the opposite and being proud of the punishment still applies today. Continue reading Ryeview – October 2004
Ryedale is losing out. The benefits of democracy do not appear to exist in the district. Yes democracy survives, we have elections and thus an MP, county and district councillors. What we haven’t got is political debate, campaigning, alternatives or choice. Democracy does not flourish. What is not clear is whether these are Ryedale symptoms or part of a national epidemic. Continue reading Ryeview – September 2004
Ryedale is losing out. The benefits of democracy do not appear to exist in the district. Yes democracy survives, we have elections and thus an MP, county and district councillors. What we haven’t got is political debate, campaigning, alternatives or choice. Democracy does not flourish. What is not clear is whether these are Ryedale symptoms or part of a national epidemic. Continue reading Politicians stand in the way of democracy