In yet another outrageous example of EU bureaucracy British taxpayers are having to support the offspring of East European workers in this country who have children living in Poland and other countries. Once more we are being exposed as the fool guys of Europe and the Government can, yet again, be accused of failing to stand up for our rights by refusing to adhere to the EU rules that force us to support the dependents of migrant workers. Astonishingly, a spokesman for HM Revenue and Customs is reported as saying that these payments only account for a 'tiny percentage' of the 7.5 million total child benefit payments, yet the Treasury estimates that 37,900 children in Poland are being supported by British handouts to the tune of £24m; an incresase of 20% on last year's figure.
As concerns grown over the number of immigrants now living in the UK this news will further fire the anger of British citizens, especially the thousands of families that are suffering severe hardships and can no loner afford heating, food and other essential commodities.
Is it not time that our Government started putting UK citizens first?
Sunday, 1 November 2009
DANGEROUS LEMONS SHOULD CARRY A GOVERNMENT HEALTH WARNING
Every day a new story appears in the quality newspapers that eclipses something that grabbed my attention previously for its gross stupidity. On Saturday, 31 October, the Daily Telegraph included a story about an elderly shopper who was prevented from buying two loose lemons - yes lemons - from an Aberdeen branch of Asda because the staff claimed that the fruit is dangerous!
The man, Chris Pether, 70, was told that health and safety rules prevented the sale of more than one loose lemon - although he could buy a pack of ten had he wished to do so. The reason behind this apparent ban on lemon sales, the man was told, was because local youths had taken to throwing them at people - along with grapefruits and oranges. When Mr Pether placed the lemons on the scales to be weighed a message flashed up to tell him that this was more than the maximum number he could purchase. When he told management that this was 'ridiculous', Mr Pether was told he had to buy them one at a time.
The customer eventually got his lemons - by paying for them in two transactions.
The man, Chris Pether, 70, was told that health and safety rules prevented the sale of more than one loose lemon - although he could buy a pack of ten had he wished to do so. The reason behind this apparent ban on lemon sales, the man was told, was because local youths had taken to throwing them at people - along with grapefruits and oranges. When Mr Pether placed the lemons on the scales to be weighed a message flashed up to tell him that this was more than the maximum number he could purchase. When he told management that this was 'ridiculous', Mr Pether was told he had to buy them one at a time.
The customer eventually got his lemons - by paying for them in two transactions.
Friday, 23 October 2009
THE PUBLIC HAS THE RIGHT TO BE LISTENED TO
I happen to believe the BBC were right in allowing Nick Griffin on to the Question Time programmre last night and had they barred him from taking part it would have been another serious nail in the coffin for our democracy. Just because you don't agree with a person's views is not sufficient to gag them from speaking. I watched the programme with a keen interest but I was angered by the way it appeared to have be stage managed. Earlier in the day I had listened to John Prescott talking on Radio 5 when he claimed that the guests had prior knowledge of the questions that would be asked and that the 'invited' audience were 'plants'. I think he is probably right and Dimbleby went down in my estimation for his biased views and poor handling of the programme.
Nick Griffin is not the sort of man you warm to and much of what he and his party stands for is despicable; nevertheless there is no doubt in my mind that the programme was deliberately stacked against him. As such he and the BNP probably gained more than they lost but we will have to wait until the election to see how many voters will back the party. Although I hate what the party stands for, I am convinced support for them will grow mainly because of the lack of confidence voters have in the ability of the other parties to listen to the voters and act in their interests.
The mainstream parties can say all they like against Griffin and the views of his party but nothing will hide the fact that voters are increasingly concerned about the 'open doors policy' expressed by the Government towards immigration. Let's face it, they have not only failed to stem the flow of immigrants into this country but they have also lost track of thousands who have remained here illegally. We can only guess at these numbers but, like everything else, Labour's guesstimation is likely to be wildly inaccurate.
Jack Straw - who still has not answered a letter that I have repeatedly sent and e-mailed him since nearly a year ago - waffled around the problem and was typically evasive leaving Griffin to put across the real concerns of the people. Barones Warsi (Conservative) was far more controlled and gave a good account of herself as did Bonnie Greer who was also on the panel. The public are also rightly worried about voicing their opinions on immigration for fear of being branded as racist when clearly the majority are not. Many share my view that everything in this country is being stacked against hard working decent people while certain favoured groups (did I say bankers and MPs?) and the 'great unwashed' who are allowed to continue doing what they've always done and are left completely unchecked. People are deeply concerned at the drain increased numbers of people are having on our already shrinking resources that have reached breaking point and beyond. The immigration issues expressed by the majority have nothing to do with race or colour, and the Government must clearly understand this and allow the citizens of this country greater freedom to openly air their views. We are aware that the vast majority of immigrants are decent, law abiding citizens who contribute a lot to our country; but, the Government cannot be blind to the fact that there are also countless more that contribute absolutely nothing and are a drain on our system. It is this group that we are concerned about.
If the BNP dramatically increases its support to win a foothold in Parliament (providing Labour does not introduce a law to make the party illegal first) then the mainstream parties have every reason to be fearful. But they can really only blame themselves for failing the public on every count. At a time when MPs are despised for their abuse of the rules, they should be trying very hard to regain public trust, but they are not. Instead of listening to their constituents and addressing what they have to say, they are showing no signs of action. The future of this country is increasingly looking bleaker by the day and the intransigent attitude of Brown and his government are mainly to blame. We need urgent changes now - not pointless promises and lies - and if politicians continually refuse to listen to what we, the people have to tell them, the country will lose its status as a democracy. It is a time for honesty and integrity - a time for a new breed of politician to step forward who will truly represent the views of the people.
Nick Griffin is not the sort of man you warm to and much of what he and his party stands for is despicable; nevertheless there is no doubt in my mind that the programme was deliberately stacked against him. As such he and the BNP probably gained more than they lost but we will have to wait until the election to see how many voters will back the party. Although I hate what the party stands for, I am convinced support for them will grow mainly because of the lack of confidence voters have in the ability of the other parties to listen to the voters and act in their interests.
The mainstream parties can say all they like against Griffin and the views of his party but nothing will hide the fact that voters are increasingly concerned about the 'open doors policy' expressed by the Government towards immigration. Let's face it, they have not only failed to stem the flow of immigrants into this country but they have also lost track of thousands who have remained here illegally. We can only guess at these numbers but, like everything else, Labour's guesstimation is likely to be wildly inaccurate.
Jack Straw - who still has not answered a letter that I have repeatedly sent and e-mailed him since nearly a year ago - waffled around the problem and was typically evasive leaving Griffin to put across the real concerns of the people. Barones Warsi (Conservative) was far more controlled and gave a good account of herself as did Bonnie Greer who was also on the panel. The public are also rightly worried about voicing their opinions on immigration for fear of being branded as racist when clearly the majority are not. Many share my view that everything in this country is being stacked against hard working decent people while certain favoured groups (did I say bankers and MPs?) and the 'great unwashed' who are allowed to continue doing what they've always done and are left completely unchecked. People are deeply concerned at the drain increased numbers of people are having on our already shrinking resources that have reached breaking point and beyond. The immigration issues expressed by the majority have nothing to do with race or colour, and the Government must clearly understand this and allow the citizens of this country greater freedom to openly air their views. We are aware that the vast majority of immigrants are decent, law abiding citizens who contribute a lot to our country; but, the Government cannot be blind to the fact that there are also countless more that contribute absolutely nothing and are a drain on our system. It is this group that we are concerned about.
If the BNP dramatically increases its support to win a foothold in Parliament (providing Labour does not introduce a law to make the party illegal first) then the mainstream parties have every reason to be fearful. But they can really only blame themselves for failing the public on every count. At a time when MPs are despised for their abuse of the rules, they should be trying very hard to regain public trust, but they are not. Instead of listening to their constituents and addressing what they have to say, they are showing no signs of action. The future of this country is increasingly looking bleaker by the day and the intransigent attitude of Brown and his government are mainly to blame. We need urgent changes now - not pointless promises and lies - and if politicians continually refuse to listen to what we, the people have to tell them, the country will lose its status as a democracy. It is a time for honesty and integrity - a time for a new breed of politician to step forward who will truly represent the views of the people.
Tuesday, 13 October 2009
When will MPs admit they have fleeced the public
The issues over MPs expenses exposed by the Daily Telegraph earlier this year are unlikely to die down following the independent inquiry by Sir Thomas Legg. It appears public confidence in those charged with the affairs of running our country will continue to diminish because many Members of Parliament, especially those within the Government, still refuse to admit the errors of their ways. It looks likely that a large number of MPs will either resign or be forced to stand down by their constituents at the next election.
The fact that PM Gordon Brown has been asked to repay £12,415 comprised of more than £10,000 in cleaning costs and £2,000 in other claims is a complete travesty and will prove to emphasise how out of touch he is with the populace. It is unacceptable that Brown can claim more for cleaning than some people earn in a year. MPs continue to argue that what they have done was within the rules – rules that they made themselves, but this cannot be taken as a reason for fleecing the public. They believe that they are being tried retrospectively and many refuse to accept that they should be called to account. More than 500 MPs have been called to account to justify their claims. Those MPs that continue to fight the committee’s findings will surely only succeed in digging their own political graves.
The independent inquiry does appear to have reached some pretty inconsistent findings. Former Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith, has got off lightly and has not been expected to pay back the £116,000 claim she made for expenses on her family home in Redditch despite conflicting evidence that she spent most of her time at her ‘main home’ in London; a small room at her sister’s house. It is ironic that it is the police who have contradicted Ms Smith’s claim that she spent the majority of her time in London.
From the evidence gathered meticulously by the Daily Telegraph team, it is also shameful that to date there has been no confirmation from the police or the DPP of any impending prosecutions for fraud but public pressure could eventually force them to act.
It will be interesting to see how the expenses issues fans out in the next few weeks.
Check out the your MP's expenses and how Parliament tried to hide the true facts on the The Daily Telegraph web site.
Highly recommended: A thoroughly interesting and informative read 'No Expenses Spared' - The inside story of the scoop which changed the face of British politics - by the team that broke it by Robert Winnett & Gordon Rayner (Bantam Press)
Monday, 12 October 2009
MY NEW BOOK RELEASE
My latest book was released in the UK on 1 October and is due forworld wide release in December.
'Imperial Airways - The Birth of the British Airline Industry 1914-1940' is published by Ian Allan.
Imperial Airways is a name redolent of the excitement and glamour of the pioneering years of flight. Founded in the 1920s, Imperial Airways flew to destinations all over the world. This beautiful and evocative book on the 'golden age' of passenger flight is the result of years of research, and the text is complemented by a wealth of stunning photographs and ephemera. It is the most definitive book published on the history of Imperial Airways and the formative years of British commercial aviation. The book begins immediately following World War I with the pioneering companies - Air Transport & Travel Ltd (AT&T), Instone, Handley Page, Daimler Airways and others - and shows how, after AT&T's demise, the remaining three companies were brought together in 1924 to form Imperial Airways. The company continued through difficult times, political uncertainties and fierce competition to open routes to India, South Africa and beyond. This was achieved through the untiring efforts of colorful characters such as Sir Sefton Brancker, Herbert Brackley, George Woods Humphery, Sir Eric Geddes and an array of often eccentric pilots such as one-eyed Ray Hinchliffe and 'All-Weather Mac' Robert McIntosh. The book covers all the various different types of aircraft flying at the time. Often out-of-date and, on occasions, considered to be dangerous, the companies maintained a level of safety and reliability that was sometimes against all the odds. This is especially true considering the lack of navigational aids and other equipment that was available. The story continues with the arrival of the legendary HP 42 airliner, the era of the great flying boats and the experimental 'Mercury-Maia' project when routes across the continents were opened to link the British Empire to the motherland during the period between the two wars. The work also covers the important role that Croydon Airport played in the history of commercial aviation. The story concludes in 1940 with the formation of BOAC. This is an intriguing story that represents a journey through time when it could take more than a week to travel by flying boat between Australia and the UK and when passengers flying the near East routes would stay the night at remote desert forts en-route for India.
DINING OUT
I have recently had the pleasure of eating in two excellent pub restaurants that I recommend you check out. I have deliberately kept my comments short and suggest that you click on the links below to view the web sites of these two inns and to discover about their menus.
The first is The Lord Nelson a delightful 18th century country inn located in the small Oxfordshire village of Brightwell Baldwin near Wallington and is run by Carole and Roger Shippey. The menu is varied; the food excellent and the ambience superb. The hostelry is open all day on Sundays (for Sunday lunch/dinner) but I suggest you book early to avoid disappointment.
The other is the Bell Inn at Beechampton, a recently refurbished village inn nr Stoney Stratford, Milton Keynes. As this is a free house it offers a wide variety of excellent ales and an exceptional wine list that is interesting and varied. Excellent food is served in two cosy dining rooms. I thoroughly recommend that you try their traditional Sunday roasts or treat yourself to their succulent steaks (specials on Tuesday Steak Nights).
The first is The Lord Nelson a delightful 18th century country inn located in the small Oxfordshire village of Brightwell Baldwin near Wallington and is run by Carole and Roger Shippey. The menu is varied; the food excellent and the ambience superb. The hostelry is open all day on Sundays (for Sunday lunch/dinner) but I suggest you book early to avoid disappointment.
The other is the Bell Inn at Beechampton, a recently refurbished village inn nr Stoney Stratford, Milton Keynes. As this is a free house it offers a wide variety of excellent ales and an exceptional wine list that is interesting and varied. Excellent food is served in two cosy dining rooms. I thoroughly recommend that you try their traditional Sunday roasts or treat yourself to their succulent steaks (specials on Tuesday Steak Nights).
Tuesday, 29 September 2009
Brides Stretch the Boundaries With Intimate Portraits
When couples have been together for any length of time it can be difficult for a bride to know what to give to her groom as a very special present on their wedding day. For the man that has everything what can be more personal than a beautifully posed portrait of the bride … either nude or dressed in sensual lingerie? Surprisingly there are plenty of young ladies willing to make the effort to have this type of portrait taken as items that appeared in The Sunday Times and Femail in The Daily Mail will testify.
As one lady, interviewed by the Daily Mail commented “When you see old people in the street, it’s hard to imagine them as young,. But when I am old and grey I’ll be able to look back on these pictures and think, yes … I did have pert breasts and a nice bottom. I want to tell my grandchildren that, actually, I used to be quite sexy”.
If you are thinking of having a tastefully intimate series of photographs taken there it is of course not necessary to be completely nude; this is entirely up to the individual. With the sensational styles in lingerie these days and experienced photographer can produce wonderful images of their clients that in years to come they will glad they had taken.
Although I have a great deal of experience of taking sensual portraits of my clients, if you prefer a lady photographer there are a few all-female studios that specialise in this type of portraiture.
If you'd like some information about my sensual portraiture please drop me an e-mail at info@robertbluffield.co.uk
The trend for sensual portraiture has taken off in America where the term Boudoir Photography was adopted some time ago but glamour portraiture is fast catching on in the United Kingdom.
Some brides have taken the plunge by making an all out effort to lose a few pounds in weight so that they can look their very best when they visit the photographer’s studio. Many of the young ladies that are opting for this style of portrait tend to be the shy, reserved types and not necessarily those that are more extravert. But women today are far more liberated and if they have good bodies then there is nothing wrong in being proud of their attributes.
If care is taken over the photographer that is chosen, then there really is no need for the young lady to feel embarrassed or ill-at-ease. In the past I have asked to produced portraits of this kind for clients and it is important to create the correct ambience and to maintain everything on a highly professional level. I have found that my clients soon relax and enjoy being models for the couple of hours that it might take to produce an exceptional set of photographs. It always helps if the client brings along a female friend who can offer her encouragement. An album containing a set of stunning portraits should be viewed as a lifetime investment and is likely to cost in the region of £700.As one lady, interviewed by the Daily Mail commented “When you see old people in the street, it’s hard to imagine them as young,. But when I am old and grey I’ll be able to look back on these pictures and think, yes … I did have pert breasts and a nice bottom. I want to tell my grandchildren that, actually, I used to be quite sexy”.
If you are thinking of having a tastefully intimate series of photographs taken there it is of course not necessary to be completely nude; this is entirely up to the individual. With the sensational styles in lingerie these days and experienced photographer can produce wonderful images of their clients that in years to come they will glad they had taken.
Although I have a great deal of experience of taking sensual portraits of my clients, if you prefer a lady photographer there are a few all-female studios that specialise in this type of portraiture.
If you'd like some information about my sensual portraiture please drop me an e-mail at info@robertbluffield.co.uk
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