MP Wants Smoking Back!

"If landlords want a section of their pubs to be for smokers, then so be it. Non-smokers are not in the pubs and a lot of smokers buy their alcohol and stay at home." Karl McCartney MP for Lincoln.
Nobody made our MP issue these bizarre statements that fly in the face of all of the health advice we have received. I am concerned, by the by, that many of our young children (who are the most vulnerable with their small lungs) are still exposed to this danger. Further more, as someone who smoked for thirty years and regularly enjoys the excellent real ales of the Golden Eagle I know he is quite inaccurate. My local has smokers and non smokers in more or less equal measure. I equally value The Gateway, both pubs are near or within my Ward. I have every sympathy for smokers, I found this a difficult addiction to break and I am disappointed that my MP is not supporting me or organisations like Phoenix or local GP's who will try to help people stop but instead he is giving succor to the tobacco companies. If you want to give up please contact your GP, All our doctors in the City are genuinely committed to help. Lets be clear, all of the reputable medical authorities now oppose smoking as likely to lead to things like lung cancer. You don't see many doctors or nurses smoking these days. While smokers should be supported Karl is wrong to offer this false and health damaging prospect of reversing the legislation brought in on a free vote of all MP's with majorities for this current law in all parties. I want Karl to support the health agenda that saves lives rather than encourages ill health. I am very disappointed in his irresponsible approach to the health of his constituents.

A Very British Coup Rewound

Sadie Smith of Total Politics has reviewed the reissue on DVD of this great political classic of the late 20th Century. The original book written by Chris Mullen MP  to my mind is up there with House of Cards. I enjoyed the style and literacy of Sadie's article and I will confess I had not watched this series since its original broadcast. My difficulty is that Sadie dismissed the work as a sort of left wing chick flick, a fantasy of the 80's left. I said in response to her article (which is here): "If my memory is accurate  however then I would disagree with the analysis at a number of levels. The most important point is that when reviewing an historical work from the 1980's its important to do more than look up the date when the Berlin Wall fell. There has to be some valid reference to events and attitudes at the time of screening. Its also important when reviewing a screenplay not to assume that the author of the book (Chris Mullen MP) had total control over the screenplay". Alan Platter in fact deserves a good mention too. I went on "Having read the book (a deliberate comedy) and watched the TV series (a dark and insightful reflection of the times) I can tell you they are quite different creations. I am guessing that Sadie is too young to remember the period so this tells us more about her current (understandable and valid) views than the drama itself." I have now begun to watch the series again, its here by the way on Channel 4 if you want to refresh your memory.
Lets move on from Sadie then, however reluctantly. Looked at from the other side of a Labour Government which Chris Mullen's PM Harry Perkins would have seen as left wing Tory Government (if such a thing is possible post Heath) A Very British Coup is a serious reminder of the way we where in the early 80's. It is; sumptuous, stylish; a period costume drama of the highest standards. I remember when watching it then wondering if we would ever see a Labour Government of any kind in my lifetime. I was to wait nearly a generation. I don't share the view that the Blair/Brown Government was a sell out or a total disaster although morally, as always, and common to all previous Governments of all hues, it had blood on its hands, in our case, in the Middle East. Is it possible to have a British Government that is different?, Well, this is the story of one that tried to be. Its power of prophesy is outstanding. The Dirty Digger plays a major role and is even mentioned by name along with his creature The Sun. Don't rely on me or Sadie, do the unthinkable, go here or buy the DVD and watch it yourself. I would be interested to know if different generations to mine found this excellent piece of drama as fascinating and enjoyable as I still do.

Lincoln a new Mass and our German Pope Heads for the Land of Luther

A German pope heads for the Land of Luther

An interesting article on Pope Benedict's approach to Vatican II and Martin Luther (above) prompted by his visit this week to Luther's home ground comes on the day my little family and I experienced the new Mass for the first time. Its also a week when I have completed an article on the Festival of Islam here in Lincolnshire (which I attended) and made initial contact with the newly launched Bridge Community Church in my City Council Ward.

There is an obvious and less obvious common theme in all of this. The obvious theme is the world of faith, the question posed by secularists will be "not so much faith as fiction" of course. While on the subject of secularists I see some rewriting of history by the elegant but occasionally inaccurate Jeremy Paxman. In his otherwise excellent series "The Victorians" he describes the end of Christianity occurring. While in the 19th Century  there was all sorts of fascinating things taking place, not least the rise of the Methodist Movement as a serious social force (unmentioned by Jeremy) and Ouija boards (which he does mention) the majority of Victorians went to Church. Its easy Jeremy, get over it. I digress, but in a good cause, despite my irritation go and watch the series or read his excellently illustrated book, more here.  

The less obvious theme is about how we deal with change, do we oppose it, just express cynicism (the easiest, best fun but ultimately lazy approach) or embrace it. Dr Joe Nason writing in "Thinking About Management" says "the broader our knowledge base, the more eclectic our reading, the greater the exposure to ideas that allow the generation of alternative insights into how we make sense of our experiences".

(Golding et al 2000: 40)

I know Joe, he is at the heart of the MBA course and business school here in Lincoln at our University and likes to challenge the gray matter, to wake people up from the stupor that sometimes passes for that thing called opinion (informed or otherwise). The clue to understanding the new Mass is contained in the opening responses to Vatican II. The translation from the Latin was strongly criticized by traditionalists as inaccurate. Causing particular ire was the translation from the common prayer and response: Dominus Vobiscum (The Lord Be With You) which was Et cum spiritu tuo (and also with you). More accurately this should read "and with your Spirit". Surprise, surprise, the new Mass corrects the inaccuracy. More seriously, the prayer common to all Christians as stating our most basic beliefs is the Creed. It began Credo in unum Deum, that is "I Believe in one God". The new Mass has replaced the erroneous "We Believe" with "I Believe". This theme operates throughout, its not difficult but its not a big thing either I think.  

Martin Luther (1483-1546)

So, as Joe has indicated, wide and eclectic reading and knowledge, understanding the history and context is key to managing this change. Who raised issues regarding Vatican II? Vatican II "breathes the air of Teilhard de Chardin, the French Jesuit, but not enough of Martin Luther". Who was this? Yes, the man who became Pope Benedict, Servant of the servants of Christ, speaking back then. Now then, this goes a little beyond some name changes does it not. Is the Pope going to place within the Church a deeper recognition of Martin Luther? Will that conflict with his predecessors view that Luther was “heretical, scandalous, false, offensive to pious ears and seductive of simple minds, and against Catholic truth”. Clearly Pope Leo had a different approach. Which brings us to my contact with the Bridge Church, impressively evangelical and a child of Martin Luther's revolution (also they look like being great fun). I look forward to talking to them.  The Living Islam Festival represents the other challenges Pope Benedict faces. Early in this Papacy Pope Benedict unintentionally gave some offence to Muslims which he has tried hard to correct. It was small beer however against the widespread prejudice and baseless assumptions of terrorism that 9/11 and the London Tube Bombings understandably evoked. Over 1000 practicing Muslims live in or around Lincoln. That's a substantial part of my community. Understanding these people of the Book and the message of peace I encountered at the Festival is important if we are to continue to progress as a civilized community. Welcoming Muslim involvement, ensuring freedom of worship and increasing public consciousness of this positive faith that is entirely compatible with all of our other communities has to be an important set of activities in our common journey to a better City.  While we think about that my spiritual leader is visiting sites of Lutheran significance and will be speaking on this hitherto fairly unexplored topic in modern Catholic circles. Where will it all lead? 

Lets Bang Everybody Up!

I am not a hang 'em, flog 'em, lock 'em up type myself. I have done enough work in prisons to know what they are really like. I think every knee jerk bang 'em up type should spend a week in Lincoln Prison and let us know how he (it usually is a he) feels about it afterwards. I have worked with enough young people to know that in the majority of cases there are alternatives to prison. Sentences should be appropriate and so too should the nature of where we bang people up and thats a debate worth having too.

But: We are angry are we not. We have watched loads of "hoodies" piling into places and stealing, damaging and burning. We want order and we want revenge, lets be honest about that.

That's easier to play to than dealing with the underlying issues like a lack of youth support services. I don't mean youth centre's either I mean places for people to live and be developed in the way their parents should have done or been able to do. By youth I am talking 14 to 26. The building of confidence, education and options away from the gang culture that has claimed so many lives is a seriously important objective.

Government is presiding over a reduction in those services when this will cost more than it saves and more importantly it will cost quality as well as loss of life for people who could make a contribution.

It would be easy to say from my political view point that the Tories will drop this ball but will they?

Ian Duncan Smith MP

Ian Duncan Smith has said that the Tory government under Margaret Thatcher may have "freed up the markets" but missed "the next bit". Mr Cameron has already promised to boost a plan to help 120,000 troubled families through early intervention and Mr Duncan Smith denied that such a programme was unaffordable.

"We're spending a lot of money sending them off to offenders' institutions, to prison, intervening at all sorts of stages," he said.

"You can save a lot of that by getting these interventions right, earlier on."

Measures would include remedial education, work programmes, job interviews and drug addiction rehabilitation, he said here. Is this the Christian compassion of a committed spiritual person or is he reflecting also new values he detects within a Government many of us feel is simply failing the people.

The models he espouse though already exist and are operating here in Lincoln but also in other places and they have worked in my experience with over 70% of the young people who have engaged with those services and they are the one's who stayed the course. I mention some of the organisations here that carry out such work.

I wonder if...........................

  

Lincolnshire Did Not Riot, Why is That?

I was on Radio Lincolnshire 8.30 this morning (Monday 15th August), it was a  round table about the respect agenda in relation to the riots. Rod Whiting led a discussion with Robert Dring (a retired Boston Head Teacher) and I. For a while you can find the broadcast here.  I thought it would be interesting to talk about why the riots happened and also why they did not happen here in Lincolnshire.

•      They did not riot, not in Lincoln, Boston, Stamford, or Grantham.
•         They were calm in Sleaford, Alford, Mablethorpe and Bourne.
•         There was not a hard word in Market Deeping, Horncastle or Spalding.
•         Cows passively munched serene in Skegness, Spilseby and Wainfleet. 

None of our communities rioted

This is the Rod Whiting show, one of the most popular of the chat shows on local radio with its mix of serendipity and serious talk.

Tony McCardle Chief Executive Lincs County Council
supporting the opening of the Catch-22 Youth Advice Centre.

We discussed the need to ensure funding for LEAP, Catch-22, Framework & Nomad continued at their present levels supporting vulnerable young people. We also discussed the absence of a moral compass in our society and Robert particularly discussed what the man from Galilee would be asking of us, we should love our neighbour and I agreed with him.

Rod now and again will ask a County person with a story to tell on to the show and we did that last year to chat about the range of things that have kept me off (and on) the streets over the last thirty years or so in this fair County.

I noticed the take with Question time on Thursday night was to try to allow the public to bring out all of the real life issues and not just the politics. It happened again tonight with Young Voters Question Time. This is the BBC at its best, helping us to explore the issues, giving the people their voice.
There was a point while I was listening when someone described a burning building and the fear of being attacked. I was swept right back nearly 40 years to the streets of Belfast where as a young serviceman I recalled a similar scene.

David Dimbleby is another of my favourites and like Rod he will keep people on topic but also allows the human equation to emerge.

He chaired the Question Time when the leader of the BNP was on the panel and although I had felt originally that he should not appear by the end I was very pleased that the public were exposed to his position and could make their own judgement. David enabled that.

I have been a regular audience member and question “asker” for many years and once dined with David and the panel when the Labour panel member had to leave early.

So I hope people can listen to what will be a very interesting take on the situation via http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/bbc_radio_lincolnshire and hear our various views in Lincolnshire.

August 2011 Youth Riots Why?

As Parliament is recalled should it posture or lead?

There are solutions but action is needed not empty words and Parliament may need to tell the Executive what to do.
As part of the analysis that needs to take place the British Government of the last three years (both) need to see how far reductions in support to vulnerable young people has been reduced and in what key areas. So, for example, reductions to Catch-22 or YMCA services for example  will result in less support for young people (16 - 26) deemed in or likely to be in crime. This is not an excuse to excuse the thugs of the last few nights, If they had been residents in my old services I would want them dealt with but I would want to know why we had failed. If the service has been reduced however that might be the reason for failure. There is a need to understand why there is a problem now and what we do about it and its not enough just to highlight a lack of funding by the present Government or ring our hands over violence. Its not enough to put the issue thats our collective responsibility back on a Police service Government was trying to reduce either. The Police have done their job, now we must do ours and seek long term solutions.

Youth crime was in hand until fairly recently and reducing, not perfect but getting there in many places. What changed and why?.

 I think we may find that short termism is part of the problem. Initiatives started under Major/Blair had started to work but towards the end of the Brown era the temptation to cut "old programmes" in the face of the bankers thuggery (Lehman Brothers and their friends have been just culpable as the rioters and have caused and continue to cause just as much misery). 

In Lincolnshire youth crime has actually reduced for example, should we be looking at these figures and working out what worked?

This Government should shoulder its share of the responsibility but so too must earlier administrations in treating youth support as a Cinderella service.

Solutions:

What worked: Keep It, if it was cut and it related to youth support, look at returning it.

Now is not the time for posturing or making fine speeches deploring violence - good as that will feel, now is the time for long term well tried solutions.


A final but vital point:


The vast majority of young people did not riot but stayed at home and looked after their friends and family.

Why I want People To Vote Against the Death Penalty

If you have already decided to oppose the death penalty proposal go here or copy paste this: http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/1090
First of all I am one of those people that doesn't like abortion, if it can be avoided and I don't like killing people if it can be avoided. I don't agree, usually, with the taking of human life.
I have carried arms in the defence of the realm and I have witnessed a few conflicts. I appreciate that killing people happens as we all saw recently in Tottenham, sadly.
There is a justification for killing people in an emergency as the only way of protecting innocents from harm and I have witnessed that. That's what happens in war, that's why those who have seen it first hand avoid war whenever possible. As soon as you bear arms in this country, and its not a right here, nor should it be, you become a soldier and you are subject to the rules of engagement. I happen to believe that only individuals so ordered by the lawfully elected authorities should carry arms in the defence of the people.
As a Christian I can legitimately hold all of those views above. Every other world faith holds similar views although I appreciate individual Christians, including past Christian and other leaders have breached those views and laws usually in the pursuit of political power. Oliver Cromwell in this country was a good example and so was King Henry the Eighth & both of his daughters (I include Good Queen Bess). There have been Catholic leaders also who breached these beliefs and Catholic and other Christian leaders executed for opposing execution or state murder as it should properly be called.

Taking a person who is in your custody and, for whatever reason and in whatever way, killing them is, according to the tenants of my faith, murder - because it is avoidable. Because it breaches the sixth Commandment.

What if you are not a Christian or a member of one of the world's faiths?

This argument was put by the petition creator Martin Shapland to oppose any change in our current position. Currently Britain opposes the death penalty here or in any other state.

 That the British people note that only 58 nations currently use capital punishment, as opposed to 95 which have abolished it, further notes the un-retractable nature of such a sentence in incidents of miscarriages of Justice, further notes the death penalty does not reduce crime or act as a deterrent and in US states which practice capital punishment incidents of homicide are higher than US states which do not, further notes the higher cost of capital punishment compared to life imprisonment, believes that British Justice should not be in the same league as China, Iran, North Korea, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Libya and Syria which do practice capital punishment on a routine basis and that the death penalty is the ultimate denial of human rights and an affront to the values of British Justice.


I think those are all points worth considering. There are many more arguments against I appreciate.


Please just go here and vote against. Protect our Countries reputation as a civilised state.