LETTER FROM MUNGUIN

To the BBC

Teaching the Libations a few chords before my big number

London 
England

Dear BBC,

We know that you are based in England, and that most of your staff are English.

Given the respective sizes of our UK constituent  countries, this is only to be expected. It's quite fair, and we have no problem with it. We just wish you would spend a little more of your money in our counties, instead of the bulk of it being spent in London and Manchester.

But it is important as a news organisation to remember that what you are broadcasting, although mainly for consumption in England, does go out in other countries too. You know, that is not unfair, given that citizens of the other countries pay licence fees at exactly the same rate as the English do.

It is, therefore, very important for you to distinguish, in your reporting of a news item, which countries you are referring to.

In many cases your failure to make it clear is little more than an irritation; a discourtesy, and what minor misunderstandings your misreporting of events cause are of no real significance. 

However, your reports about junior doctors' intention to take strike action, do not come into that category.

There are in fact four NHSs in the UK. The English one is the biggest of course, but in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland, thankfully, Jeremy Hunt is NOT the Health Secretary. 

Mark Drakeford is Minister for Health and Social Services in the Welsh Government. In Northern Ireland Simon Hamilton is Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety, and in Scotland, as seen above talking about junior doctors,  is the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Well-being, Shona Robison.

Mr Hunt has badly handled the dispute with junior doctors and strike action applies only to his fiefdom In the other countries more mature and sensible heads have prevailed.

 MEDIASTORM Retweeted

Nicola Sturgeon ‏@NicolaSturgeon  14h14 hours ago

Nicola Sturgeon Retweeted Kay Burley

This is a massive vote for strike in England. NHS Scotland open to junior docs who want to be valued by government.

Nicola Sturgeon added,

Kay Burley @KayBurley

BREAK: Junior doctors vote overwhelmingly in favour of strike action. 98% in favour on a turnout of 76%

431 retweets320 likes

 

 

 

It matters so much this time becasue those who are ill, or expecting to be taken into hospital for routine procedures, or have outpatients appointments, or indeed friends or family of these people in the Celtic countries of this union, should not be alarmed by today's news. It doesn't apply to them.

When things are geographically specific, you should report them as such. You wouldn't, for example, warn everyone across the UK to evacuate their houses becasue of an unexploded bomb in Brown Street in Bristol, would you? 

No, because even if the bomb went off in Bristol, people in Cardiff or Derry or Aberfeldy wouldn't be affected. 

Same thing then with cancelled appointments in Scotland. They are not going to happen.

Now for heaven's sake it's not that difficult, BBC. 

Britain is not England is not Britain.

Try saying it over to yourselves a few times and see if eventually it sinks in.

Oh, and one last thing, before I go. If you seriously think that you can address the democratic deficit in your reporting in Scotland by appointing Sarah Smith, another of you Labour Party friends to be your Scotland Editor, then please, think again. We're not impressed, in fact we are howling with laughter at your ineptitude.

It's a bit like trying to fight a fire with paraffin. And we are beginning to wonder if you are doing this on purpose.

Kind regards

MUNGUIN

RANDOM THOUGHTS ON THURSDAY

MR JIM MURPHY AND THE NATIONAL UNION OF STUDENTS

• Session: 1995-96
• Date tabled: 12.06.1996
• Primary sponsor: Livingstone, Ken
• Sponsors:

That this House condemns the intolerant and dictatorial behaviour of the President of the National Union of Students, Mr Jim Murphy, who has unconstitutionally suspended NUS Vice President, Clive Lewis, because he took part, in a personal capacity, in an open debate at Queen Mary and Westfield College on the issues raised by the Campaign for Free Education; further notes that along with President Elect, Douglas Trainer, both men have warned NUS Executive member, Rose Woods, that if she attends the Scottish launch of the Campaign for Free Education she too will be suspended from the NUS Executive; reminds Mr Murphy and Mr Trainer that freedom of speech is a right in the United Kingdom, that they have no power to overturn the results of elections that went against their preferred candidates and that, whilst these methods are a common practice in dictatorships around the world, they are not acceptable behaviour from someone such as Mr Murphy who is putting himself forward as suitable for election to the House of Commons.

Filter EDMs by:

Total number of signatures: 13

1. Show:

Supported byWithdrawn signatures

Showing 13 out of 13

Name	Party	Constituency	Date Signed
Barnes, Harry	Labour Party	North East Derbyshire	13.06.1996
Benn, Tony	Labour Party	Chesterfield	12.06.1996
Clapham, Michael	Labour Party	Barnsley West and Penistone	19.06.1996
Cohen, Harry	Labour Party	Leyton and Wanstead	20.06.1996
Corbyn, Jeremy	Labour Party	Islington North	19.06.1996
Etherington, Bill	Labour Party	Sunderland North	18.06.1996
Gerrard, Neil	Labour Party	Walthamstow	12.06.1996
Jones, Lynne	Labour Party	Birmingham Selly Oak	12.06.1996
Livingstone, Ken	No party affiliation	Brent East	12.06.1996
Mahon, Alice	Labour Party	Halifax	12.06.1996
Simpson, Alan	Labour Party	Nottingham South	12.06.1996
Skinner, Dennis	Labour Party	Bolsover	12.06.1996
Smith, Llew	Labour Party	Blaenau Gwent	18.06.1996

Interestingly Alex Salmond, MP for Banff and Buchan wanted to add "as a Labour MP" to the end of the motion and proposed an amendment to that effect.

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Bravo.

Seems like an evil little bucket of manure, doesn't he?
Think that Eton Dave must be putty in his hands.

So, no wonder Patrick looked like this when daft wee Ruthie
started burbling on about Putin invading Scotland and then talked
bullshit about the size of the British Forces.
They may be buying hundreds of armoured cars, but they don't have any drivers.
Almost as daft as building aircraft carriers when you don't have any aircraft
and who'd do anything that bloody daft...?

You gotta give the Brits credit. They are consistent.
They will keep on starving the lower orders until there are only
 just enough to serve champagne and canapés to their betters.

Don't know where they are going to be working.
There are no oil fields left.

Dave... yer patter's boufie mate.
We stopped believing a word you said 5 years ago

Ahhh, the British establishment.
As ever unaware of the situation outside of a few
select gentlemen's clubs in Pall Mall.

The Libations made it to the charts
But it seems that both they and the Proclaimers may be having problems
getting airplay. I wonder why.
So we have to do it ourselves. The BBC establishment will
 probably play Vera Lynn's White Cliffs of Dover.
If you know someone who doesn't have
Caledonia or Cap in Hand, persuade them to buy them.
It's not expensive and it will make a difference.
Remember the Proclaimers donated to the YES campaign and the
Libations to food banks.

MUNGUIN MEETS THE STARS

The Libations (or some of them) with their biggest fan

Munguin, as you know, has a fair number of friends in political high places. Honourable gentlemen and Excellencies are numbered among his close confidants.

And of course not so long ago he presented Pétula Clark with a box of Thornton's chocolates, with only a couple nibbled (he likes soft centres), at Glasgow's Royal Concert Hall, to celebrate her 72 years in showbusiness and a new album in the charts. 

Today he made further strides in the world of show business by meeting his own personal favourite boy band, The Libations. The guys were in Dundee to promote the single, Caledonia, which everyone on here now knows off by heart, is raising money for food banks.

It was a treat for Tris too, to meet such brilliant musicians and truly lovely people. We spent some time together walking through the centre of Dundee. Somehow it felt like we were friends who had known each other forever. I want to thank them for playing along and being such fantastic sports. I'm sorry to have missed Richy, but there will be another time, I know it.

La la la la la la .... It's the guitar that's out of tune!!!

The town was buzzing, Big Chris was there with his big blue goddess, the Spirit of Independence (seen just behind Munguin as he was just getting his vocal chords warmed up for his solo). On the other side of us Blair Jenkins and Shona Robison were there talking to people as they passed by. The streets were full of kids waving saltires and people with yes badges. It was like a carnival.

Great afternoon... So nice to see the town buzzing with excitement.

Tomorrow we will know if the lads, and Caledonia have made it to the charts. (Update It entered the chart at #16. Good start. Now let's get it in the top 10!) Fingers crossed. The more sales, the more money for hungry kids. You can buy up to midnight tonight!

Thanks for coming to Dundee and for a great afternoon guys.

GREAT EVENING AT STEPS THEATRE

A brief post on a hugely successful and motivating evening spent in the company of some excellent speakers last night in Dundee.

The sage at the Steps Theatre

Organised by Yes Dundee and chaired, once again, by the estimable Stuart Fairweather (Trade Unionists for Independence) there were Robin McAlpine (Common Weal), Chris Law (Spirit of Independence), Libby McArthur (actress and writer), Jim Sillars (politician, trade unionist, writer and speaker) and Craig Murray (diplomat, writer, broadcaster and human right activist).

The atmosphere fair bristled with emotion as all the participants spoke, with passion, to their strengths. 

Munguin was pleased to welcome
 Mr Murray to Dundee

Craig talked about how corrupt the current UK state is and cited examples drawn from his own experiences as a top level diplomat in the FCO. The most compelling were about the UK's involvement in torture in Uzbekistan, a state many times more corrupt and repugnant than Iraq, and yet close friends of the UK (now, I think, being advised by none of than Blair, who it appears will do anything, no matter how disgusting, for money). He also pointed out that when the Uk went to war illegally in Iraq, in the sure knowledge that the UN would have forbidden it had they been consulted, everyone in government knew perfectly well that there were no WMDs. Hundreds of thousand of people died, were maimed, lost their livelihoods and indeed their country thanks to that deceit. Blair got a congressional medal.

Libby McArthur

Libby brought levity and comedy to the evening. Having met Tris's mum in the ladies' room prior to the meeting she referred a couple of times to her during her talk. Amongst many other topics she talked about how we no longer have many shows made here in Scotland; everything is done from London and most of her friends have had to leave Scotland to get work in theatres in London. Indeed the big shows that come to Glasgow and Edinburgh originate in London and star English actors. 

Chris and his Spirit of Independence, the Big Blue Goddess

Chris Law explained his crowd funded project of the big blue fire engine and its journey around Scotland taking information to people in towns, cities, villages and hamlets around the country. I love the slogan "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed it's the only thing that ever has."

Robin McAlpine

Robin McAlpine has to been seen to be believed. I've never hear a man pack so many words into such a short space. But he talks my language. Common Weal is so appealing to me. The thing that struck me was his comparison with Norway. Now he admitted that there are a lot of variables to consider when you look at the comparison of life styles between two different countries with different tax systems and prices etc, etc, but none the less He pointed out that the average wage in the UK is £25,000  and the bottom 10% average on £6,000. In Norway the average wage is £45,000 and the bottom 10% average out at around £25,000. We dont have to live under a horribly imbalanced regime where 1 in four kinds is living in poverty but there are 100 + billionaires in the country.

Jim Sillars... and Margo

Jim Sillars is an inspirational speaker. There's no nonsense about him. He wants a decent society, one his generation, he admits, failed miserably to provide for Scots. He sees (as Robin does) a huge opportunity to re-industrialise the country. He talked with such passion about some of the dreadful wastelands in the west, North Lanarkshire, Dunbartonshire, South Lanarkshire... areas around Glasgow, where people live under awful conditions, beaten down by the utter hopelessness of terrible housing, bad health, no suitable jobs that pay enough money that you don't have to claim benefits just to pay the rent, and then be called a benefit cheat by some toff from the House of Lords.

The emotion Jim put into his piece spread out across the audience through countless bursts of applause. And of course he paid a tribute, with a catch in his voice, to Margo.

The place was pretty packed and like every other meeting like this that I've been to, the friendliness and warmth of the crowd was something to be marvelled at. New friends were made.

We are creating a new Scotland here.  

We can do this. 

We just need to redouble our efforts over the next few weeks. The reward will be a much better life for our kids adn hopefully for us too.
**********

For fellow Dundonians, tomorrow promises a visit from Blair Jenkins, Spirit of Independence  and our own group, the Libations will be busking around Dundee promoting Caledonia. If you can get out and see the lads, I'm sure they will be happy so say hello. Munguin and I are hoping to get out to meet them.... and you. Say hello if you see us.
**********

Finally, I have no time for Jim Murphy. In fact I can't stand the bloke. He is a red Tory who has gone around his 100 streets lying through his teeth, refusing to answer awkward questions, and whining about a bit of barracking that any kind of a politician should be able to handle, but (although I take the point that eggs are really pretty inoffensive weapons...unlike the ones that Jim voted to be used on Iraqis), we should all be able to speak our minds without being assaulted. 

So because I feel strongly about any kind of violence, like Easy Peasy blog, I publish this picture of the person who is alleged to be the egg thrower in the hopes that some of the thousands of readers of Munguin's Republic will recognise him and dob him in. If he is not, then he should come forward and clear himself.

We can do this without eggs you half wit.

IN THE AMAZON CHART AND HEADING FOR THE UK CHART (if we keep up the momentum)

Martin from the Libations updated me last  night that they were able to make their first donation to "Loaves and Fishes" as a result of sales of Caledonia. Once again he thanks Munguin's Republic's readers for their support.

The lads with Mrs Curran at loaves and Fishes

He and Darren went along with Mrs Curren (Denis's wife) to make the presentation of a cheque for £1,115. 

Those of you who have followed the success of the song will know that it has been #1 in the Amazon country sales; it has risen up the overall downloads sales, and was, as of last night, at #8 on their chart just behind Pharrell Williams' "Happy".

If we can keep sales like this going until Saturday then it is likely that the song will make the UK Top 40, and then the radio stations take over and it becomes (hopefully) unstoppable.

I know there have a been a few posts about this, but it's important:

(i) because, as you read above, the lads have already donated over a thousand pounds to a foodbank, and 

(ii) because having "Caledonia" played on the radio and on the iPods of the country won't be doing YES any harm in the run up to the referendum, and

(iii) because it's a great song, and a superb rendition. It deserves to be a hit and in any case you're gonna love listening to it.

There are always readers who haven't seen the original post and/or who will see this one and remember they haven't reminded their cousin Willie or Great Aunt Matilda to get out there and download it on Amazon or iTunes.

So we make no apology for plugging it for all we're worth. Buy it, tell your mates about it, phone your local radio stations and request it for your granny's or grandson's birthday. Just let's get it out there.

Munguin's humming it in the background, whilst cracking his whip, as I type. 

Ouch!

PS. Darren, Ross and Martin will be up in Dundee on Saturday to promote the disc. Not sure at the moment where  exactly or when, but we'll be along to see them at some point. Munguin, being a sophisticated animal, takes a great interest in Scottish Arts. We'll keep you updated with any info.

THE TERRIBLE BURDEN OF OIL

JOAN McAlpine looks deeper into the some Westminster's claims regarding how Britain's oil would be distributed if Scotland became an independent nation.

Does the oil belong to Scotland?

Yes. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) says oil revenue should go to the country in whose waters it was discovered. Professor Alex Kemp, of the University of Aberdeen, says 90 per cent of UK oil lies in Scottish waters but we need to be independent to get the revenue it generates.

Isn't the oil running out?

No. UK Oil and Gas, who represent companies working in the industry, say there are 24 billion barrels left in the North Sea. That is why they are investing record amounts. Even the UK Government have conceded it could last another 50 years.

How much is it worth?

Around £1.5trillion. This could rise as world demand pushes up prices. The International Monetary Fund’s research team have predicted world prices could double by 2022.

Will we be too dependent on oil if we choose independence?

Even without oil, Scotland’s wealth is around the same as the rest of the UK, according to official figures. Ratings agency Standard & Poor’s say, even without oil, Scotland would be one of the most successful economies in the developed world. But the oil is a huge bonus and gives an independent Scotland a great head start.

What does that mean for me and my family?

We can create an oil fund by saving some of the tax – Norway, a country the same size as Scotland, has accumulated an oil fund of £500 billion to be used for pensions, healthcare and investment in the future. The UK has failed to set up a fund and squandered our oil wealth.

But the UK Government say the Scottish Government have exaggerated the value of oil

They would say that, wouldn't they? The highly respected Investors Chronicle magazine said the UK Government are underplaying the value of the North Sea oil because of the forthcoming referendum on independence.

Who else backs the Scottish Government?

Professor Sir Donald MacKay, the world’s foremost expert on oil prices, says the UK government are wrong and the Scottish Government are right. He said: “There is no hole in the Scottish Government’s oil predictions but there is a mountain of black gold missing from the UK Government’s.” The economic think tank N-56 said the figure for future tax revenues was six times more than the UK government claimed.

Is more oil being discovered?

All the time. This month Xcite Energy announced a major new oil find east of Shetland. The Bentley field will produce 700 million barrels over 35 years. The Clair Ridge Project to the west of Shetland is expected to produce 640 million barrels in the future. BP’s publicity video says Clair will make an enormous contribution to the UK economy for many years to come.

Why don’t I know this?

Good question. David Cameron made a secret visit to Shetland to see this important field. But the visit was hushed up along with the latest results of test drilling, which are rumoured to reveal even more oil.

Why would they bury a good news story?

A certain independence vote on September 18. It has even been suggested that workers on the field stand down till after the referendum.

Surely the UK Government are not involved in a cover up?

(At this point we had to pause while we arranged oxygen for Munguin.) They have form. When oil was found in the 1970s, a report for ministers by the senior civil servant Gavin McCrone predicted an independent Scotland would be richer than Switzerland. That was kept secret for 30 years.

So they lied to us?

(Well duh! They are the British government. It's what they do.) Denis Healey, the former Labour chancellor in the 1970s, admitted the value of oil was played down by Labour and Conservative governments to stop the Scots supporting independence.

How much did these lies cost us?

Around £300 billion of oil tax revenue has gone straight to the London Exchequer since oil was discovered. Scotland didn’t receive a penny.

Anything else I should know?

Significant oil finds were made in the Clyde in the 1970s but the industry was blocked by the UK Ministry of Defence because they didn't want anything interfering with nuclear submarines. Michael Heseltine, defence secretary at the time, admitted it this week.

Last weekend the Scottish Government created a taskforce to examine the potential of oil in the west. A Yes vote will mean the Ministry of Defence will no longer be able to block these developments.

What will independence change?

All the tax money from oil will stay in Scotland and be used for the good of the people who live here.

**********

SCOTTISH BOY BAND STILL AT #1 IN 

COUNTRY DOWNLOADS ON AMAZON.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Caledonia/dp/B00M85FWNA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1408988337&sr=8-1&keywords=libations+caledonia

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/caledonia-single/id903053335

CALEDONIA YOU'RE CALLING ME AND NOW I'M GOING HOME

Today I got an email from Martin of The Libations.

Here is some of the information he sent… about their recording of Caledonia. He writes:

"The recording is a modern reworking with the energy and passion of our time and it has really had an effect on people with 24,000 views on YouTube over the past couple of weeks. 

"Not only is it an inspirational record for 'Yes', but every single penny of the sales proceeds go to food bank charities.

"Our aim is to get into the Scottish charts by the end of next week - To get to #1 it needs to sell around 6000 downloads between Sunday 24th and next Saturday 30th August, but over 2000 will get it into the top 10 in Scotland.

"Once into the charts it will be on every radio station playlist and this will send a message to the powers that be, raising awareness of the issue and good money for the food banks."

Now I know that when we covered the story some weeks ago many of you went out and bought it then. I know, because Matin emailed me to tell me how much he appreciated your support and the sales... and the money that went to food banks.

"It's not for me. Erm, I'm ready for my close up now Tristan"

Now I'm going to be all kinds of cheeky... but you understand, this isn't for me; it's not for Munguin; it's not even for the Libations. They won't get a halfpenny from it. 

Instead it's for two things. 

It's for YES. Imagine a song about Scotland in the charts in Scotland with everybody humming it and singing a wee snatch every few minutes, in the run up to the referendum, and maybe more important (although its hard to think of anything as being more important than the referendum), it's about raising awareness of, and money for, our fellow Scots, of whatever nationality, creed and age, who are going hungry in this oil rich country because some disconnected from reality politicians want to wave a nuclear weapon around to make them feel like they matter.

So, I guess what I'm saying is ... it's 79p at Amazon (where is currently #1 in country songs) or iTunes. 

We need to sell 2,000 to get it into the top ten and playing on the radio stations. After that the quality of the music, performance and production will sell it... And every time a copy is downloaded thats another person had another meal. 

Simples. 

So even if you already bought it... if you have any spare cash, why not buy it again... maybe five times, or ten times if you're a rich Tory.

It's not really going to cost you that much, but it's going to make a difference.

Munguin already has his headphones on.

You can buy it here, or here, and there's an excellent Huffington Post Article here about the group.

Another way we can help is by Tweeting the song... or this Munguin article or the Huffpost article or this from STV... or sharing on any Facebook or any other media that you are part of. 

Thanks.

YES: THIS IS FAT SUIT

This may, or may not, be your kind of music (it's a kind of jazz, a bit like the Brecker Brothers). But give it a listen if you have the time. It's kind of chilled. Fat Suit are from Glasgow and, as you can see from the photograph, they have a positive message. They are also very talented musicians.

And while we are talking music, don't forget this beauty, from The Libations, raising money for the hungry victims of the devil incarnate, Iain Duncan Smith. 

THIS AND THAT

'SCOTTISH Secretary Alistair Carmichael has said maintaining a strong UK Government presence north of the Border in the event of a No vote in September would mean the independence question would never be put again and the issue of Scotland's future would be settled "once and for all".

'Mr Carmichael said Whitehall had allowed the Nationalists to "hollow out" the UK Government's presence north of the Border and the lesson of the referendum campaign was that this could never be allowed to happen again.'

So unless I'm mistake from this small quote (the rest of the article is behind a paywall), if we vote NO, the Scottish government will, in future, be kept in line by the central power in London. 

This British (read English) power will never been allowed to be "hollowed out", whatever that means, by the Scottish government, elected by the Scottish people, under a part proportional voting system.

Be warned: If we vote NO Alistair Carmichael promises that we will be kept under the thumb of the British Empire and the question of freedom will never be allowed to rise again.

And that's not any old somebody saying that. It's David Cameron's man in Scotland. The representative of London in our midst. 

Heaven knows what they intend to do... send their troops to make sure that the Scottish parliament doesn't do anything the London parliament disapproves of? 

Bug the first ministers private offices and those of his cabinet?

Insist, as some including Mrs Thatcher's living representative on Earth, Michael Forsyth have suggested, that the unelected House of Lords be allowed a function in Scottish governance and the rights to veto legislation? 

Send one of the royals to live in Holyrood House to oversee our government?

Maybe even Godzilla himself will take over the palace to keep Alex Salmond, or (snigger) Johann Lamont in their place...ie Provosts of a regional council? 

So much for respect and "more powers". 

We will be watched carefully and regardless of what we vote for in the future we will NEVER be allowed our freedom.

OK Carmichael. Thanks for the warning. 

Another game changer? 

**********

What IS she doing? Levitating?

Anyway, the good news, apart from the slightly weird old lady trying to fly,  is that the poll appears to show a swing of 4% will deliver victory.

We can do this.

**********

The Red White and Blue Arrows appear to have been privatised by the Ultra Right Wing Nut Case at the Ministry of War (who didn't call the woman 'a slut' at all... he said she was a 'slattern', so that's alright, even if the two words mean exactly the same thing). They seem to have taken on a job for Eire welcoming the Queen and flown a bit lower than usual ... 

**********

The Biased Broadcasting Corporation has been taking lessons in crowd counting from the pre infants classes  or "Better Together No Thanks U Kok". 

The organisers of the protest at Pacific Quay, anticipating a bit of jiggery pokery with numbers, handed all protesters a numbered piece of paper. There were 1,207 pieces of paper given out. It is possible that there were more people there, but impossible that there were fewer.

And yet the BBC estimated 400 people.

You pay £140+ a year for a pile of lies.

I've just seen this. It surely has to be a spoof. Their reporting of the Palestine situation has been Israeli biased, but for goodness sake, even the BBC wouldn't have done this?

**********

The thing that I resent most is that they wasted the once in a lifetime opportunity of oil. Norway's Sovereign Fund now makes more in interest than their oil production makes. In short, if their oil dried up tomorrow, which it won't do, they would still be an incredibly rich country.

The immense wealth that they have created, on top of this, has all pensions covered in Norway, state employees and retirement.

On the other hand, in order to stay at the top table and wield this much vaunted clout (about which we hear a lot but see little) the Uk has frittered the money away on fighting wars it could never win, causing ill feeling around the world, buying weapons that it doesn't own and/or can't use and/or don't work, having embassies and consulates in places it doesn't need them, and generally continuing to act like some Imperial power from the 19th century. 

The result is that the external debt is £1.3 trillion and rising; no retirement pension is funded and a large number of public service pensions are not funded, meaning that taxes will have to be paid in future to fund them. This is an additional inestimable amount (depending as it does on life length). On top of that there is a massive personal debt as people take on loans for housing, education, and credit/store cards.

What a bloody mess of a country.

**********

Don't forget. If you haven't yet bought "Caledonia", you might like to think about it. Food banks need our money.