Poor Ken Clarke. I have been complaining that he has not featured very prominently in the election campaign. Is that perhaps because he is in trouble over BAT? Perhaps it is deemed he will be an embarrassment. I don't see why. He should take a tobacco leaf out of Labour's book. They have been nothing but an embarrassment since they were voted into office, but they are still going strong., It's a pity though, because the Tories just do not have many amongst them of any stature.
WILLIAM HAGUE
There seems to be talk in certain Conservative quarters of bringing back William Hague as party leader after, as they predict, the Tories have lost this coming election. I don't know quite what to say. I am sure he is a very good back-bench MP, but as party leader he was a loser then, quite obviously. Have matters changed that much?
JOHN PRESCOTT
I must admit to having a sneaky admiration for the man. He is undoubtedly an animal, a vulgar, common piece of shite, yet he has that ability to fight his corner with a verbal dexterity and pugnacious manner that many of his opponents lack.
HOLIDAYS AND TRAVEL BOOKED IN BRITAIN TOO EXPENSIVE
Once again I have to say: 'So what's new?' This has been the case for quite a long timenow, especially as travel from the UK is concerned. I know that to my own cost. Travel to London from abroad, and you get cheaper fares for the same route as travelling from London to that destination. Book your holiday to wherever in the UK and you will on the whole be quoted higher fares than were you in Amsterdam, or Berlin.. But then people will accept this status quo. The majority simply don't care, especially among the younger generation. They have money to spend, and they spend it. I also consistently hear: 'Well, there's nothing I can do about it?' They are what I would almost call a subservient generation, who will accept anything. That is not a good situation in which to be..
BLAIR PRAYS FOR TERRORIST OUTRAGE
Tony Blair must be praying for a terrorist outrage to take place in this country before the coming election. I say coming election, but has anyone considered he may decide to defer the election. Blair believes that such an outrage would demonstrate that he was right in the stance he has taken against terrorism. We all know he has taken no stance at all, but the poor, deluded man thinks he has. But it should of course work quite to the contrary for him, if the opposition knew how to use such a propaganda gift - but I don't believe they do.
DELL COMPUTERS
I tried to order a computer from the above company. Their web-site has to be one of the worst organised, one of the most frustrating to use, in short one of the most user unfriendly I have ever come across. I shall be in the market again in a couple of years. But will DELL be around to supply me?
DAVE ALLEN - GOODBYE TO YOU SIR
OLYMPICS FOR LONDON - I HOPE NOT
We are told that having the Olympics in London will bring regeneration to large parts of East London. And so it would. But surely such regeneration should not be dependant upon having the Olympics here? I do not believe we can afford them. The economy is fundamentally unsound. The costs for this development will certainly well exceed those currently projected, they always do. More importantly we have here a Government (and I would certainly hope they will not be in power come the Olympics) which has demonstrated by its track record, that it cannot manage such a project.
ON THE BUSES
I read recently that there have been a large number of complaints about London's bus services, specifically about bad driving. This is nothing new. I reported on this some three years ago and the situation has become increasingly worse. I really don't feel inclined to go over old ground, but those who defend the services should try using a bus sometimes. I do.