Long Holiday for cheating swines who have escaped the country and all its diseases

Recently a Teacher friend of mine was given a gift from one of her pupils as an end of the school year gift. On it it read “Three reasons to be a Teacher: Christmas, Easter and Summer Holidays.” The perks of having so much time off from their job is not only exclusive to Teachers, because from today MPs will take a massive eighty-two days holiday away from the The House of Commons.

While the country's problems deepen its good to know that the elected guardians of our country will be resting at home or swanning off around Europe without a care. During this three month break many of them will enjoy up to two holidays away.

The War in Afghanistan continues, the Swine flu Pandemic grows and a worsening Economic recession mean that thousands of families will suffer this Summer and many will not be able to afford even one holiday.

Instead of dealing with the nation's crisis's and making decisions to improve things, MPs will enjoy days at home on full pay, drinks by the pool in some hot country and days out with their families with the cash they managed to hoard while they creamed the taxpayer for every other essential and non-essential item over the last twelve months by their expenses's claim.

If the expenses crisis wasn't enough to make them feel more remorseful and shorten their break they have sent a resounding “Up yours” to the public who now suffer from Ministerial mistakes to spot the banking crisis and the ensuing economic disaster that has led to unemployment not seen for almost a decade. Quite literally, they have turned their backs on the problems that they helped create or could have done more to prevent.

In eighty-two days many MPs will return to work and some of them won't deserve a job to come back to. In a more determined Democracy they would have a much tougher time. In this country its the public that legitimises Parliament and its the MPs elected that are supposed to represent the public. Its a complete fallacy. MPs represent themselves first, they decide what they should earn, what perks they should get and how much vacation they should enjoy.

We used to believe that MPs made sacrifices in order to lead our country. Now they have been caught with their snouts in the trough, filling their pockets by using a ridiculous expenses system to inflate their salaries, fraudulently dodging their own commitments to pay taxes and taking holidays that would make even a teacher feel hard done by.

Qualified to cook food but not the books

I hate to contradict a man that has been a successful entrepreneur, has made it big in the consumer electrical goods Market, has made millions of pounds and now has a seat on the Government via his ascendency to the House of Lords. But why did he choose a glorified Chef to become the next BBC Apprentice. Jasmina, won through quite predictably because of the dogged tenacity she must have had to run a successful business. Her own Restaurant, where she manages up to twenty staff is just the sort of yarn that Sir Alan likes to hear. With each year, in each series we are treated to another tale of how he defied the odds of a Hackney upbringing and made good. But Jasmina's story is not as similar as his own as Sir Alan likes to think.

For twelve weeks Jasmina and the other Apprentice hopefuls completed tasks to prove that their own interpersonal and business skills were worthy enough for Alan Sugar to pick them for a £100K job in one of his corporations. Each week they were tested on their ability to market, to sell, how they communicated and how well they performed in the imfamous boardroom showdown against fierce competition that was more than happy to stab them in the front in order to survive another week.

Many fell at the first hurdle, some were out of their depth, while others were plain bonkers, but when it came to the final with just Kate and Jasmina to choose between it looked like Kate was going to walk it by a mile. Wrong. Kate was just too polished they said, too perfect, she must have had faults they just could not see them. Jasmina on the other hand had run her own business, had started it with her Brother after they had convinced their Mother to re-mortgage her house. But she was to demonstrate that she had all the business acumen of a garden worm.

When she was interviewed by one of Sir Alan's Cronies in the penultimate week she flustered over really knowing the difference between what is Nett and Gross Turnover; and was blissfully unaware that company accounts are recorded and can be accessed by anybody. Important things to know if you run a modern business, you'd think?

Jasmina showed throughout the series that she was a personable young woman with definite social skills suited to run a group of young people who wait tables, but business savvy and a complete entrepreneur as Sir Alan suspects, she is not.

A General Election now could backfire on Mr Cameron

David Cameron has insisted that the Prime Minister should call a general election now. The Question is: with the recent resignations of some Labour politicians, can this government really survive for much longer? David Cameron hopes it won't. However, there may not be be any clear winners if Labour go into meltdown and Parliament is dissolved now.

It's perhaps not an ideal time for The Conservatives Party to contest in a General Election. After all, voters are critical of all the old major parties right now including the Conservatives. The electorates disdain for politicians and its apathy for politics in general could see a lot of them voting for fringe parties, such as the British National Party, just as we witnessed recently at the European Parliament elections or they may simply stay at home and not bother.

Cameron could get it all wrong by calling for the public to vote now. Labour's majority may be small enough to be toppled by a strong opposition party, but the Conservatives who are equally caught up in the expenses scandal will lose many thousands of votes too; no one knows how many.

If the Conservative Party fails to secure a big enough majority they could be struck impotent from driving new legislation through or worse have to power share in a 'Hung Parliament' because they fall short of a clear Commons majority.

If the Conservatives and all the major political parties are to retain their traditional voters, they must clear up their act. They should stop saying sorry and start to have a cross party action plan to sharpen their image. One way of doing that is to select fresh candidates who have not been caught up in any sort of sleave and are certainly not tarnished by the present crisis.

If there were to be a General Election very soon many of the electorate could turn away from mainstream parties and this could damage the Conservatives hopes of returning to power after 11 years in the wilderness.

Underside to Success as ITV is Blasted by the PC police

Susan Boyle has been admitted to the Priory Clinic, because it's claimed, that she is suffering from exhaustion after the relentless pressure she's been under since her singing talent was discovered on ITV's “ Britain's Got Talent.” However, the story is not all about her. Instead the knives are out for ITV producers of the talent show. The Questions being asked are were ITV bosses acting responsibly when they let her sing in the shows final? and “Should the ITV have done more to help what would appear to be delicate person who is not quite ready for all of the public reaction she has received over the last two months.

My question is: Is there really any point to this News Story. When the programmes judges, Cowell, Holden and Morgan heaped praise on her unique talent she must have known if she was able to cope with being in the limelight. Being a modern day recluse she obviously displayed limitations that would be highlighted by the pressures and the expectations from having an extraordinary talent? Why start blaming the ITV for her frailty and why bring in more regulation to stop it from ever happening again. People can be vulnerable, that's what makes us human and we you can't handle singing in front of an audience of 19 million people, I know I couldn't, don't bother, go back to Scotland and look after your cats.

I wish Susan Boyle all the best and I really hope she makes a speedy recovery so she's able to showcase her talent again soon, but lets not start pandering and protecting people who want to pursue fame. It is within them to find the strength to cope with the pressure not for TV producers to hurd weak-minded people on to a show and then be blamed for not looking after their mental state.

Stop saying sorry, Mps who took liberties should resign.

Gordon Brown, (Labour) David Cameron (Conservatives) and Nick Clegg (Liberal Democrats) have now all said sorry on behalf of their MPs who have been claiming excessive expenses. Seems that it was not too long ago that another hapless group, the banking elite, were doing the same thing. Its funny how Harriot Harman spoke then about the 'Court of Public Opinion' and how Fred the Shred was not going to get away with his millions after the government had bailed out his failed bank. I suspect, that the so called “ Court of public Opinion “ will not be called in to session by Ms Harman or any other MP in the foreseeable future because of the expenses crisis that has exploded. Furthermore, its unlikely that many of the apologetic bankers and politicians will be tried by the public and many will walk away blissfully with the money that was they extorted.

Its often been said that the rich, are only rich because they never give anything away. However, its a large number of politicians who have become Richer simply by taking money from a floored system that they they themselves created. It seemed like child's play. Systematically, they dipped their hands into an expenses pot like an ordinary person who had discovered an ATM machine that paid out money for free; returning time and time again without reproach or fear of getting caught.

The greedy politicians simply took money for luxuries from a system that almost encouraged the self-financing of MPs in light of their Salary freezes. All this and the people in charge of granting their expenses claims virtually turned a blind eye. I don't believe for a minute that many of the General Public who found themselves in a similar position as politicians with free range to a similar Expenses claim system would not also use it to top up their salaries. Although, the consequences of being found guilty of abusing the system would be far greater for a mere individual.

So the crime of abusing an expenses system whoever you are is wrong. Perhaps there is some justification for why MPs did it then? No. As mentioned earlier, the consequences of an ordinary person doing such a thing would be unimaginable. However, to witness the people that we entrusted to lead our country, spend money for underfloor piping of their tennis courts, Plasma TV's and church collection contributions is heinous. The fact is that the Politicians who sit in Westminster, Guilty or entirely innocent have lost the moral high ground. If their reputation was not bad enough, they have steeped to an all time low in public opinion.

Simply saying sorry does not go far enough and will not abate the anger that the public feels towards the institution that is supposed to set a better example. Once again, the expenses row has highlighted the case that our current batch of elected MPs are no better qualified to lead than anyone else with a vision to be a decision maker in the UK. What happened to Representation of our views, our hopes and concerns? An overhaul of our current procedure of selecting MPs is not too far away and then maybe the trust in our Parliamentary representatives will once again return.

Should we be shocked by Ross and Brand's Prank

Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand, the BBC’s A list TV and Radio presenters have landed themselves in hot water again. This time they have made obscene phone calls to Andrew Sachs from Fawlty Towers and boasted that Brand had slept with the actors Granddaughter. They’re used to creating controversy by themselves, but have this time teamed up to bash another celebrity with their quick wit and originative insults. Since the news went public via just a few newspaper inches dedicated to the prank, it is estimated that there have been 30,000 complaints registered to the BBC about the incident. What’s surprising is that almost all of these were made two weeks after Russell Brand’s Saturday night Radio two programme was aired. The show was even recorded and was later aired without the BBC’s bosses taking such potential upsetting comments too seriously and allowed it to be heard. To some, this prank was a step too far and outrageously offensive. However, to others it was entertainment, but to what extent?

Jonathan Ross is paid a fortune by the BBC; an estimated 18 million for a three year contract. His detractors believe he is not worth anything near that figure. But others might agree with a view that defends the BBC that there is simply no one better, funnier or more cutting edge in entertainment right now than Wossy and his mate Russell Brand. Ross is paid to be funny, to be entertaining. His quick wit, tempered by what some consider to be insults have made him a figure of controversy. He is used to making people laugh by being close to the line of what is and what is not acceptable to say. He knows that what makes us laugh is what entertains us and this has always been a factor where comedy is concerned.

Insults and picking on people have always made people laugh. Being abusive is far funnier than saying a kind word about someone. It gets a bigger reaction and ultimately a bigger laugh. Celebrities are no more immune from this than anybody else, in fact in terms of having a target, they are the easiest of them all. We idolize the famous, but we are as fickle as we are Human. Its so satisfying to see the celebrity dethroned and sent to the bin of “Yesterdays News.” One minute your an A list star, the next your treading over other former stars in a mad stampede to be on the next “ I’m a Celebrity, get me out of here.”

For Brand and Ross, its not the first time they have been criticized for courting Controversy. In 2006 while speaking at the Q awards, Ross, afterwards came under fire from disability groups when he called Heather McCartney a “Fucking Liar and wouldn’t be surprised if she had two legs.” Another time when discussing Abi Titmus he quipped that she’s been tied to more bed posts than David Blunkett’s dog.” Its as entertaining as people feel about such issues. If not most us will hide the instinct to laugh. We suck in breath, defuse a cry of laughter and smile innocently inside. Jonathan Ross is not alone in his attempts to walk the line between what’s funny and what should not be said at all.

Brand himself caused a heated reaction at another awards event when he confessed that he’d been “having a go” on Rod Stewart’s daughter. Hardly a subtle statement and not taken in jest by Rod Stewart himself who was in the same room at the time. People still laughed, being offensive is it seems another form of giving entertainment. Who can forget Julian Clary’s immortal words on another TV awards programme in 1993? When asked how how he was hanging by the well-versed Jonathan Ross, he replied Oh very well…in fact I’ve just been fisting Norman Lamont. Such statements on TV are soon forgotten and no one lost their job over it

Ross and Brand don’t have to strive to be the best entertainers on UK TV, they are that and they have done this by playing on celebrities insecurities. In 5 years time when Piers Morgan interviews Russell Brand on TV for “ You can’t sack me I’m a celebrity. “ He won’t be impoverished or short of work. In fact, I have a feeling that the BBC will employ him again one day in the future.

Was it right for Ross and Brand to be reprimanded for their prank calls to Andrew Sachs? The BBC producer even rang Sachs about the Broadcast, but still made the decision to air it. Subsequently, a number of BBC controllers have stepped down because of the decision to let it be heard. They must have at some point found the whole thing a gas or been blindingly stupid to believe it would not offend someone. Sachs and his Granddaughter did not make the most fuss about the whole matter. In fact, Sach’s Granddaughter has done very well out of it and I look forward to seeing her on Celebrity Big Brother, real soon.

It’s the 30.000 people who complained; those who came to the defence of Sachs who have been responsible for people losing their jobs. Was the prank in bad taste? Yes, most definitely, but where did 30,000 Mary Whitehouse’s appear from. I thought we had moved on as a nation and had all become crueller.

It would seem so when a young man in Derby stood on top of a Multi Storey Car Park and threatened to end his life by jumping. What happened next was perhaps one of the most sickening episodes in the history of the British People. Some on the ground that day were heard to goad him and encourage him to follow through with his threat and jump to his death. He did and those who could have saved this distressed man committed the biggest insult they could have to him and his family. Do the lewd comments of a few BBC presenters add up to more than the comments of a baying crowd who enjoyed the entertainment in Derby that day.

We live in a TV age where bigger laughs mean better entertainment and this means higher viewing figures. The paying audience will always enjoy the comical exploits of the people in the media that take the greatest risks. Brand and Ross do this with certain ease. They know and so did the BBC that these players come with an element of danger but pack a dynamite case of laughs and entertainment. People will always complain about sick jokes for as long as people keep writing them. It’s human nature to poke fun and in some way feel superior to the victims, on this occasion Brand, Ross and most notably the BBC found out just how far they could push it.

The Court of Public Opinion

You've heard of the Law Courts of England and Wales, The Courts of the European Union and even the Court of Human Rights, but now there is another court and this one you will not have heard of. Its...wait for it...the court of Public opinion. Not heard of it then? No, you won't have, because such a court does not exist! Except, that is, in the mind of Harriot Harman, Labour's Deputy Leader. This fictitious place is where the voting public vent their anger about the RBS Boss who walked away with a fat pension despite bringing his bank to its financial knees. What an outrage, what a heinous crime, but isn't it nice that the government have shown anger towards this issue too? Afterall, if there is one thing some politicians hate more than criticism about how are they acquire their inflated salaries with certain dodgy expenses claims its seeing other people taking money that they do not rightly deserve either.

Harriot Harman's swipe at Sir Fred's large pension was as close as the Government will publicly side with the public on a single issue. When talking on the BBC Ms Harman blasted, “The Prime Minister has said it is not acceptable and therefore it will not be accepted. It might be enforceable in a court of law this contract [Sir Freds Golden Goodbye] but it's not enforceable in the court of public opinion and that's where the Government steps in." However, try as she might to find a legal loophole to prevent Fred the Shred getting all of this money, but claiming that public opinion is now the dish of the day is a little conderscending. Strange as for centuries governments have turned away from listening to public opinion. Considering too much power by the people to be anti-democratic and fearing some medieval “Mob rule”

The real Court of Public Opinion is, as far as I am aware, in session for only one day every five years. It's when a General Election is held and the concerns of the people of Britain are seriously taken in. They decide who and what political party is fit to become the government. I am a firm believer in Democarcy and know that there are many ways that the democratic process can be expressed, but most British citizen's only concept of Democracy is expressed by 8 to 10 crosses in a lifetime on a ballot paper. There are many decisions taken away from ordinary people who often feel more qualified to make them than some politicians are, but this is the nature of a constitututional Democarcy that we live in. This is not ancient Greece where every man has a part to play in decision making. Nor is this a country where there is a Court of Public Opinion.