British Government

As we come to end of another year, 2007, it is time to anticipate what may happen in 2008. Gordon Brown has to be the most illegitimate Prime Minister this country has ever had. Tony Blair said that he would serve a full term and he was effectively overthrown by a Brown inspired coup. It is inconceivable that labour will have an overall majority at the next election but to have the conservatives in power would be a disaster. Accordingly, we may well end up with a labour government who can only operate with the help of the tories. History repeating itself from the late 1920s and 1930s. Is this the time when we have a government of national unity because the economic threat to our quality of life will prove irrresistable. The problems in China will surface with the olympic games. There economic growth is not sustainable. China is the cause of much of the disruption in Africa especially around Dafur where they use the political problems to get cheap oil from the Chad/Cameroon oil pipeline. Russia will continue to cause problems because of Putin and the criminal activities will not be confined to Russia. They are back playing what was known as the big game. Iraq and Afghanistan will prove to be the same for Britain and America as it was for Russia and previously Britain alone, a disaster. All that Britian and America have achieved is to arm the militias and now we even employ them. Consider the similarities of Britain ruling India, we just paid the locals to do our dirty work. We want to run Iraq in the same that Churchill did between the wars, with air support keepingthe locals under control. Only now we will use drones.

The year to come

at this time of year some of us like to look into our crystal ball and see what the future holds, although as you read on many will wish that my predictions do not come to pass.From my viewpoint I anticipate a deeper recession than many commentators. Just as there was a minor downturn in 1928 leading up to the American elections of that year, then I think there will be, as a result of food inflation and the credit crunch from the banks, a fall in the summer of world-wide stock markets. This will not be the end because 2009 will be the very bad year as many of the first post war bulge in the birth rate begin to hit retirement age and they will start to liquidate their portfolio of investments to maintain an unsustainable level of prosperity.The less fortunate pensioners will begin to realise that they too have been conned only they will not accept their new status in life.Just because governments, politicians and companies have got away with, or done something in the past, that does not mean that we too have to accept their decisions. Maybe, just maybe, the revolution anticipated by Karl Marx will happen after all!

New Year Resolution

this is the season of goodwill so for a change I am actually going to agree with one of your other correspondents, namely John Vicary Will Echo make New Year pledges Echo December 19. Now here is a first.Yes there has been too much of Exeter's head of recycling so please Mark let's trim him.As for the lady with the black-feathered head-dress can we please call her what she is, namely the Lady Mayoress, I am of the old school who likes to see actress when the actor is a female, and can we not call female graduates batchelor of something, surely they are spinsters if anything.As for for slimmers I don't know about that one as I intend to lose some weight next year so that I look good on Budleigh Salterton beach or walking around the City in my shorts.Ah well have to say Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year to all of my fans. See you next year folks.

Prostitution in Exeter

the Echo seems to be in favour of protecting society from the dangers of Samurai swords. It also seems to want to save the planet by banning the use of plastic bags and using other means to transport our purchases. All very laudable.The Echo also recently reported on the police raids on various houses of ill repute where ladies of the night were conducting their business. My point is that I have to accuse the Editor of hypocracy because the very newspaper which reported the activities going on in these establishments seems to condone them by carrying adverts in respect of personal ads and those for the various massage parlours operating in the City. Now you cannot have it both ways.Therefore, let us see the Echo putting its money where its mouth is by banning all adverts which support the activities of any form of prostitution. There is not only the question of female exploitation but also involvement in the slave trade. So, Mr Astley will you, with immediate effect, ban these adverts even though it will cost the paper money through lost advertising revenue. Come on , make it your new year resolution. By running the adverts I regard the paper as being an accessory to this trade, and therefore complicit on living on immoral earnings.

Exeter Cathedral

do you know that only yesterday I thought that my new year resolution would be to stop writing to the Echo because there was not much more that I could say. Then I reflected on what may happen if I stopped so, my new new year resolution is to write exposing those items which I regard as being necessary to expose.Yesterday there was a funeral at Exeter Cathedral of a young soldier who had been killed serving his country in Afghanistan. What appalled me was that the Cathedral authorities allowed a field gun and soldiers carrying rifles onto the forecourt of the Cathedral. Now a gun carriage would have been acceptable, just about, but rifles and a field gun!I thought one of the ten commandments was though shalt not kill yet by their actions the Cathedral authorities seem to condone killing. This is not good enough. He was just a young man and it is not only 'our side' being killed, it is many hundreds, if not thousands, of young women and children who are also dying.

Inquiry into Iraq

now that we have completed our ignominious retreat from Basra, although not Baghdad, and we continue to lose lives in Afghanistan I was wondering if somebody could help me by answering a question about this situation. What exactly was the point, what did we achieve other than the ruination of the reputation of our soldiers. How many of the deaths can actually be attributed to friendly fire, faulty equipment or a total lack of any understanding as to the political and religious situation in Iraq.I consider that the fault firmly lies with our political leaders and the senior ranks of the military. There must be an inquiry into the behaviour of our soldiers with specific reference to the maltreatment of 'insurgents' who were in fact freedom fighters trying to free their country from an illegal occupation. Were our soldiers following orders? The time is now right for the inquiry because Gordon Brown seems to favour them on anything and everything except the truly important issue of the disastrous Iraq escapade.

Northcott Theatre

how great it was to see our MP Ben Bradshaw on the television last night with his coat and scarf on to illustrate that he had come in from the cold to give his views on the loss of funding from the Arts Council for the Northcott Theatre. Our Ben really is such a thespian. The way he is able to signify all of the emotions when he ceases to be an MP he could always go onto the stage.On a serious point though why do I feel a contrived plot is unfolding before our eyes. He failed over the Exeter Unitary bid so somehow he has to show how important he is to the City. He has also failed over the Post Office closure programme which has resulted in a number of City Post Offices closing, so can our Ben save the Northcott. It is such a melodrama when one realises how much of local taxpayers money has gone into the refurbishment and now it may close. Nothing at all to do with the government, only they do fund the Arts Council. Come on Ben lets go on another bandwagon, hopefully the one which will see you and this shameful government leave town.

Exeter Unitary Bid

now that the dust has settled over the failed Exeter Unitary bid may I ask why our Member of Parliament has not resigned over this issue. He staked everything on this bid and manifestly he has failed not only the government but also, more importantly, the taxpayers of Devon and Exeter. It was obvious that it was going to fail yet he persisted in taking it forward when it was never justified. We should also have some resignations from the personnel at Exeter City Council who have been responsible for this fisaco, together with those in the business community who backed the wrong horse.

BBC Salary

it is not that I want to upset you it is just that what many people who are effectively on the public payroll will have to understand is that I am getting fed up with being made poorer by paying my taxes, over which I have no choice, so that you, and others like you, can receive a salary in excess of my own very modest income. I know you are a broadcaster but seriously what actual benefit are you to society. The same question can be asked of many others. Terry Griffin.

Gordon Brown

we know that our beloved Prime Minister will not be going to a conference because Mr Mugabe will be there. Furthermore, I believe it to be the case that he will be meeting with some MPs next week so it is unlikely that he will go to Lisbon to sign the Treaty of Lisbon which replaces the European Constitution.During the various problems which Tony Blair had to face, Gordon Brown was always noticeable by his absence. Now it looks like he continues to paddle his own canoe and disappear when the going gets tough. Well when the going gets tough the tough get going. Only problem is that Gordon is not tough but he should still go. How has it happened that such a pathetic individual has become Prime Minister of our Country.

Exeter Unitary

let me start this letter by saying that it gives me no great pleasure to know that Exeter is not going to be a unitary authority based on its existing boundaries, it was never going to work despite what a majority may have thought. However, now all the people of Devon, and I mean all, must involve themselves in attempting to come up with a solution to the problem and I have my suggestions that might start the debate.Devon, including Plymouth and Torbay must become a unitary authority with the abolition of the various districts.Health and social services must be formally merged and must be needs driven rather than wants.With regard to education then all the schools must be given their own budgets based on pupil numbers and with regard to school transport then if the school takes a pupil who lives more than three miles away then the school themselves must pay for school transport.With regard to planning then there must be a more strategic view taken because councillors depend too much on being against a local development based on their wanting to be elected at their next election.There must be a drastic reduction in the number of councillors and there must be a committee to ensure that all those standing for election have the right qualities and qualifications for the task ahead of them.Furthermore, in respect of councillors then they must be remunerated at a wage that enables them to be full time because they will have an increased overview and scrutiny role, and they must also be permitted to claim a pension.Finally, for the election to the council the first past the post method must be abolished and a fairer and more representative system must be offered.