tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77036062011-04-21T19:42:43.006Z"Politics is too serious a matter to be left to the politicians."Editornoreply@blogger.comBlogger861100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1127233113050680562005-09-20T15:57:00.000Z2005-09-20T16:21:25.153Z

Tuesday, September 20th:Two days in and Liberal Democrat activists continue to bite back at a leadership which seems determined to embrace elements of commonsense within party policy.- First the activists rejected the leadership's desire to cap the EU budget at 1% of national budgets, potentially allowing the European Union to consume even more of our funds should the Lib Dems ever get in to

Editornoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1127231661643669312005-09-20T15:37:00.000Z2005-09-20T15:56:52.013Z

Pointless job alert:Fresh from the English victory in the Ashes, the government is unsurprisingly trying to cash in on the feel good factor around. Every government does it - always have done and always will do, so I have no desire to blame them for this.What is more concerning however is one of the ideas the government is currently pursuing in relation to sport in schools.The same government

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1124719270973758462005-08-22T13:54:00.000Z2005-09-20T15:37:46.816Z

Welcome back to the original version of U.K Future!Over the next couple of months the current website is going to witness a number of changes and some re-development.I did not want to risk it keep going offline and annoying you all, thus I have decided it is sensible to return to this 'Blogger' software until it is ready.We will continue to add new content here throughout our renovations!Many

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1107378564508188802005-02-02T21:02:00.000Z2005-02-02T21:09:24.506Z

Well this is the last time I am planning to update this blogger version of U.K Future. Blogger has been very useful for me as I have developed the ideas behind U.K Future and its ease of use has been great for a website novice like myself. However I decided that six months in to the project, it was time to move onwards (and hopefully upwards) and purchase my own webspace for U.K Future and gain

Editornoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1106831425825599432005-01-27T13:07:00.000Z2005-01-27T16:54:24.476Z

Phase Two of the UK Future project is currently being prepared. I am hoping in the next couple of weeks to have the new look website completed. I have bought the web hosting, downloaded various software and the design is ongoing. Thus I ask for your patience with the lack of posts. Finally the only working address will be: http://ukfuture.blogspot.com James.

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1106247628133650132005-01-20T18:52:00.000Z2005-01-20T19:00:28.133Z

Yes we all know that the United States of America and its recently returned President are not perfect, but who or what is? It was good to see the inauguration ceremony today on television - a real celebration of what the American people feel is good about their character and beliefs, beliefs I generally share. What ever anyone says about the United States it is a true democracy. Two examples

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1106095484636864052005-01-19T01:41:00.000Z2005-01-19T00:44:44.636Z

My apologies for taking up the website with a football story. But I just had to offer my sincere praise and thanks to my beloved Burnley FC for beating Liverpool in the F.A Cup tonight. I could not get to the match because of an examination, but the performance seen on T.V did me proud. Up the clarets!

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1105870105602454212005-01-16T09:46:00.000Z2005-01-16T10:08:25.603Z

Woke up this morning to the story. Conservative MP Robert Wantage has decided to defect to Labour for his (probable) last few months as an MP. It is certainly a highly disappointing development and one that cannot be good for the Conservative Party in any way. Jackson had a long career in the party and was not, by all accounts, a man who moves political opinions like the wind. His reasons for

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1105695336122321852005-01-14T09:22:00.000Z2005-01-14T09:35:36.123Z

The government is continuing to push plans that will take in to account a person's income when calculating fines for minor offences. The proposals made in the 'Management of Offenders bill' will see the maximum fine handed out in a Magistrate's court raise to £15,000 for adults, £1,000 - 3,000 for those aged 14-17 and £250-750 for those under 14. This rise in possible fines does not particularly

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1105538868129911842005-01-12T14:05:00.000Z2005-01-12T14:07:48.130Z

A very belated new year to all our readers. Updates will begin soon. I am currently working on a new design for the site at the moment and have some examinations coming up, so this has cut down my free time to write. But stay tuned, we will be back.

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1104318688437805242004-12-29T11:08:00.000Z2004-12-29T11:11:28.436Z

I have just finished reading James Bartholomew’s book “The Welfare State We’re In.” The book is published by the Conservative’s Parliamentary candidate for North Norfolk Iain Dale’s company Politico’s. Quite simply it is inspired reading. I saw the book on Amazon just before Christmas and its synopsis grabbed me. It fed my rapidly evolving politics and I had to have it – luckily Father

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1103455534132354422004-12-19T11:09:00.000Z2004-12-19T11:25:34.133Z

There has been a lot of reaction from bloggers over the Conservative Party's plans to back the government's idea of ID cards. Indeed the 1952 committee has been created by some. I am not willing to join this committee yet, as its members say they will not vote Conservative over this issue. I cannot say that, because while ID cards symbolise some massive issues such as freedoms and fighting

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1103144710209045882004-12-15T20:51:00.000Z2004-12-15T21:05:10.210Z

Jack Straw, the man who left the Home Office in a real mess according to backbencher David Blunkett, has today announced his intention to close nine overseas embassies/high commissions. The move which Straw suggests will save £6 million pounds to put towards fighting terrorism, will mean a British presence will be reduced or non-existent in: -Tonga, Vanuatu, Kiribati, Paraguay, Bahamas, Lesotho

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1103137528302741322004-12-15T19:02:00.000Z2004-12-15T19:07:15.856Z

David Blunkett has just resigned as Home Secretary. I like Blunkett and this is sad, but it seems he felt his position was untenable. The government are now going to be reeling from this, rumours are Charles Clarke may take his place. What for the government's massive home office legislation plans now?

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1102964594912050892004-12-13T19:02:00.000Z2004-12-13T19:03:14.913Z

From the EU Observer, the fruits of appeasement? "Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has warned European Union leaders that violence from Islamic extremists could escalate if the EU rejects Turkey as a member." John Richardson

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1102964503026394152004-12-13T19:00:00.000Z2004-12-13T19:01:43.026Z

Last week, I posted that the only reason Allawi would be going to Moscow was if he/Bush were prepared to honor Russia's oil deal with Iraq, or make a new, similar deal. On Wed., TASS reported that, in an interview, Allawi pledged to honor Russia's contracts. That this seems to have gotten no attention in the rest of the media is unsurprising, since one of their most cherished myths is that the

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1102636885016259642004-12-09T23:36:00.000Z2004-12-10T00:05:04.840Z

Tonight marks the beginning of a trial feature on UK Future - A review of the BBC's Question Time programme. Where possible I will write my own views on the quality of the debate, the panellists involved and some of the big issues that were or should have been raised. I do hope you will give your comments too. Date: 09/12/2004 Location: Plymouth I was quite impressed with tonight's programme.

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1102454684721133642004-12-07T21:20:00.000Z2004-12-07T21:24:44.720Z

Over the next six weeks I am looking at adapting UK Future. My aims and goal for the website have evolved since I founded it a few months a go and I wanted to slowly build up the readership base. But now I feel the time is right to try and take UK Future on to a new, more professional level. As such I am looking at getting the website re-designed and to tighten up its focus. This is where all our

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1102454359503541172004-12-07T21:16:00.000Z2004-12-07T21:19:19.503Z

Last week, EU Referendum reported that India may pull out of the EU's Galileo project and hook up with Russia. Today, Allawi is in or heading to Moscow to meet with Putin, to discuss oil production among other things. While it may be incorrect to view Allawi's visit as an indirect gesture from Bush to Putin, it certainly is easy to do so. The Iraqi oil that Putin has wanted for some time would

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1102364924691908812004-12-06T20:21:00.000Z2004-12-06T21:00:49.006Z

Following on from my brief summary of Roger Knapman's speech to the International Politics Association here in St Andrews, an American friend of mine wrote an article on his views of our great Island since he came over to study here in September. Below I publish the article, which I delighted to say is particularly pro-British (something which usually means I will be incredibly quick to put it

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1102065932568333372004-12-03T09:20:00.000Z2004-12-03T19:16:14.866Z

John Richardson has asked me to post the following link for all our readers. I saw this at Instapundit, a free download of Brainwashing 101, a documentary about "speech codes," political correctness, and academic bias in American universities. It is endorsed by the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education. (Please note: UK Future cannot be responsible for the quality of any external

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1101923114011139672004-12-01T17:32:00.000Z2004-12-01T17:45:14.030Z

It is time to get an official public holiday for St George's day. I had a great time last night celebrating St Andrews Day. Haggis, a ceilidh ecetera. I believe Andrew Rosindell the Conservative MP tried to get St George's day as a public holiday but lost out - pity. Public holidays of this nature are the chance to express your love for your identity and your country. You can spend the day off

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1101921071361454542004-12-01T16:52:00.000Z2004-12-01T17:11:11.360Z

A bit late with this summary of the speech I attended by UKIP Leader Roger Knapman, but here goes: "Mr Knapman arrived in St Andrews to give a speech to the International Politics Association. An smallish crowd of about 35 turned out to hear him and of course I was one of them! Now some of UK Future's readers may have realised I am deeply sceptical about UKIP. While I do think their concerns

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1101919582791233712004-12-01T16:38:00.000Z2004-12-01T16:46:22.790Z

My apologies for the quiet nature of the website at the moment, but it has been a busy schedule saving the world and attending movie premieres as my alter-ego Mr Incredible! No, in all seriousness my computer decided to have a nervous breakdown on me and it is only now that I have been able to give it a fresh lease of life. My thanks also to Guido Fawkes for recommending that a career in child

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1101468063390610632004-11-26T11:13:00.000Z2004-11-26T11:28:32.540Z

A friend of mine suggested that I am beginning to model myself on Disney's latest film star. Either that or they modelled him on me and I should be getting image rights. What do you think?

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1101166301915964992004-11-22T22:50:00.000Z2004-11-22T23:38:24.596Z

Editorial: I have just finished watching Newsnight. Jeremy Paxman is an incredibly effective journalist and tonight he did a good job of making both Michael Howard and the Conservative Party look distinctly average. Was it an inner bias from Mr Paxman and/or the BBC? I am not so sure, but it was quite clear the Conservatives gave him enough ammunition to fire on all cylinders. Paxman followed

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1101143419361863752004-11-22T17:07:00.000Z2004-11-22T17:10:19.360Z

I read that Newsnight is to focus much of this evening's programme on the fate of the Conservative Party. Jeremy Paxman has followed Michael Howard down to Cornwall. It should be an interesting look at the party and may help us all to understand just what Howard's strategy is to win the next election. So take a look, BBC2, 10.30pm.

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1100815257057430812004-11-18T21:54:00.000Z2004-11-18T22:00:57.056Z

By John Richardson, JACQUES CHIRAC dealt a blow to Tony Blair’s attempt to heal the wounds between the US and Europe this week by saying that the Prime Minister had won nothing for supporting the war against Iraq. As Mr Blair used a keynote speech to present Britain as a “bridge across the Atlantic”, President Chirac doubted whether anyone could play the “honest broker”. Speaking before he

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1100606738369682832004-11-16T11:58:00.000Z2004-11-16T12:05:38.370Z

Well after a hectic few days (moving house really is hard work) I am now back in Scotland and back to a regular internet connection. I shall be getting some more stories up soon and I must once again thank John Richardson et al for providing me with a plentiful supply of quality articles to keep you all happy. The next few weeks with the run up to Christmas, are going to be busy for me, as I have

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1100183357582407722004-11-11T14:27:00.000Z2004-11-11T14:29:17.583Z

I have just moved house and as such I am without regular internet access. This will limit stories on the website, how I intend to be back up and running from Monday evening. My apologies for this and please take the time to surf our archives and email me any ideas for future stories! James.

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1099848313490705682004-11-07T17:19:00.000Z2004-11-07T17:26:00.943Z

John Richardson returns with his post election analysis. Bush has won! I suspect many in the British media are profoundly baffled at what went wrong. I look forward to the weeks of impotent ranting coming from The "Beeb", Guardianistas and the likes of Prof. Dawkins. David Carr at Samizdata summed it up well, "Every single BBC reporter looks like they have just swallowed a wasp." Was this a

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1099774139670688312004-11-06T20:45:00.000Z2004-11-07T17:25:34.246Z

Editorial Update: Great news from the North East with the rejection of Prescott's ludicrous regional assemblies idea - what will he do now? I tried to post a more detailed analysis on Friday morning but my computer was playing up, so I will just say how happy I felt when I saw the result! Power to local councils and people, yes! Another tier of government with limited powers and high expense, no

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1099598010441101932004-11-04T19:43:00.000Z2004-11-04T19:59:00.190Z

Editorial: Hopefully by tomorrow morning we shall know whether or not John Prescott's tremendously stupid regional assembly plans have been consigned to the dust bin of New Labour policies where they richly deserve to go. Rumours are that the vote will be incredibly close and this is testiment itself to the great vigour the "No" campaign has fought with against the power and money of the

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1099585640411910062004-11-04T16:24:00.000Z2004-11-04T16:27:20.410Z

Taken from the BBC: "I voted for Bush for a number of reasons, but I have to confess one of them was because of all the lecturing and condescending opinions I read in the foreign press and heard from the "holier than thou" crowd in Europe. It just got on my nerves so much that people who only get a sliver of heavily bias coverage about America could hold such closed-minded opinions about our

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1099570692830222542004-11-04T13:03:00.000Z2004-11-04T12:18:12.830Z

Ok then, UK Future may not have won the election for George W. Bush, like the Sun newspaper claimed it did for John Mayor in 1992, but it seems our wise readers voted correctly in our website opinion poll. George W. Bush won re-election with the highest popular vote in Presidential history and a massive 3 million plus vote advantage over Senator John Kerry. Furthermore he won over 50% of the vote

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1099351250688053962004-11-01T23:14:00.000Z2004-11-01T23:20:50.686Z

Last week I asked for your views on who you would vote for in the U.S Presidential election, if you had the opportunity. After a week of deliberations UK Future can announce the winner is President George W. Bush. Bush gained 56% of our vote, Kerry 33%, Nader 0%, while 11% of you wanted none of them. However it seems likely that tomorrow's real vote will be considerably closer. UK Future will

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1099324357394675782004-11-01T15:38:00.000Z2004-11-01T15:54:25.770Z

Tomorrow is voting day in the United States and by all accounts it is going to be another close race. But how will the outcome effect the relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom? Here Taylor Dinerman of www.thespacereview.com gives his assessment. "Tomorrow America will make its choice. This election will be as important as the ones that opposed Lincoln and McClellen,

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1099126040150456652004-10-30T08:29:00.000Z2004-10-30T08:47:20.150Z

By: John Richardson, The recent flap in the EU over Rocco Buttiglione puts me in mind of James Madison's Federalist No. 10, which I believe expresses, if not the main difference, at least a core difference between the thinking behind the U.S. and EU constitutions. As best as I can tell. It also, I think encapsulates the complaints of many opposed to the EU constitution. The Federalist is

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1098786520384300232004-10-26T09:54:00.000Z2004-10-26T10:28:40.383Z

Editorial: In a blaze of glory, (well perhaps not that much glory) Tony Blair announced his government's latest, snappy policy to win votes and with it tip the scales of justice back towards the victim. He announced that his government would be seeking to allow Judge's the powers to make an offendant's past criminal record known to a jury in cases involving theft and child sex. How they have

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1098701980361840732004-10-25T10:37:00.000Z2004-10-25T10:59:40.360Z

Editorial: The results are in from the latest Question of the Moment poll. I asked: "Should England/Wales move to continental time?" I did so after an English MP declared that a move would save hundreds of lives every year as it would make the evenings lighter cutting road deaths. Sadly for the Scots it would make their mornings a lot darker. In the end it would be fair to say this was a topic

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1098358492285757042004-10-21T11:13:00.000Z2004-10-21T11:34:52.286Z

Editorial: It is not too often I feel compelled to evaluate Prime Minister's Questions, but yesterday I began to get more and more annoyed at the way the whole half an hour developed. What was most notable was that the Prime Minister really is still in hot water over Iraq. While I would argue that when push comes to shove a smaller part of the population will seek to punish Blair for the war, its

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1097749510747258332004-10-14T10:07:00.000Z2004-10-14T10:29:48.206Z

Editorial: So the U.S Presidential debates are over and how interesting thay have been. I have enjoyed seeing two heavy weight politicians sparring it out with sensible, well mannered debates and it has been refreshing to see the leader of the free world be taken to account for his actions and the man who wants to take his place explain his ideas - surely this is democracy in action? But with

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1097703793347133862004-10-13T21:38:00.000Z2004-10-13T21:43:13.346Z

I have been working recently on my personal website to improve its design and increase the content. I would like to take this opportunity to do some shameless advertising of the website and to begin to gain some feedback on it. So if you really want to see who is behind UK Future, please do visit the site and provide me with your comments here, it really is useful in my attempts to evolve the

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1097696783397305412004-10-13T19:40:00.000Z2004-10-13T21:36:05.370Z

I was kindly invited to join a bloggers league on the share dealing game - Polidex. Basically you buy and sell shares in MPs! Yes, you can force the price of your own MP up (or down) and you can show your trust or lack of trust in various cabinet or shadow cabinet ministers. You start with £1000 to spend and it is up to you to try and maximise that, the game is fun and what is more it is free. So

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1097513264830961702004-10-11T16:34:00.000Z2004-10-11T16:47:44.830Z

In the latest Question of the Moment I asked: "Which political party would you trust the British economy with most?" The results were pretty mixed, with nearly 10% of you not trusting any of them! But what is clear is that while Labour is not doing a disastrous job with the economy, many of you still think the Conservatives could do better - but do the electorate at general share these views? "

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1097069200013994112004-10-06T13:26:00.000Z2004-10-06T13:39:35.503Z

Some of you may have realised that all the previous story comments have disappeared. My apologies for this, but I decided to introduce Haloscan software on the site to improve the commenting experience - I actually did not expect it to delete previous comments, but I suppose better to delete them now, rather than later. It is part of a few changes I am planning to make to improve the site. I have

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1096978402779287612004-10-05T13:10:00.000Z2004-10-06T18:58:11.633Z

Editorial: I was generally impressed by Michael Howard's first speech as Conservative Party leader. Gone were the embarrassing hand movements, croaky voice, silly analogies and false standing ovations of 12 months earlier. Without looking at the content of the speech this alone was an improvement. Michael Howard's speech had real structure. What it may have lacked in pace, tempo and general

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1096967485623038292004-10-05T08:44:00.000Z2004-10-05T09:15:33.953Z

With an expected General Election only months away I have been pondering a little more closely the political landscape. Who do I think will be the real movers and shakers and who will be suffering from one almighty political hangover come voting day? The UK Independence Party are one political party that fancies itself as a kind of new force in politics. It came third in Hartlepool, has a

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1096964791129502832004-10-05T08:02:00.000Z2004-10-05T08:43:41.063Z

Editorial: In my eyes Oliver Letwin has always been a rare kind of politician. Polite, a little quiet, a real thinker. All these traits are generally admirable, but I am not yet convinced they are particularly effective in trying to get an opposition party's message across or in winning over a sceptical media. In short - does Oliver Letwin need to find a nasty edge? Yesterday's speech was solid

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1096879219275674002004-10-04T08:36:00.000Z2004-10-04T08:40:19.276Z

As the Conservative Party conference officially kicks off today, UK Future will be doing its best to analyse what is said and judge the mood of Her Majesty's Opposition. Until the main speeches begin however, I recommend people read what I think is the best assessment so far of the Conservatives current woes and what to do about them. The article by Chris Deerin of the Scotland on Sunday

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1096620248156396592004-10-01T08:19:00.000Z2004-10-01T08:44:08.156Z

Editorial: Well last night was very disappointing for the Conservatives. Once again they failed to make any headway against the government, allowed the Liberal Democrats to maintain momentum in claiming they are the new official opposition and in to the bargain were beaten by UKIP. The whole result leaves the party in a very difficult situation. First here are the official voting figures: 1-Iain

Editornoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1096445897059237902004-09-29T08:11:00.000Z2004-09-29T08:18:17.060Z

Yesterday was the Prime Minister's turn to outline his vision of a third term of Labour. The speech was not one of his best, punctuated twice by jeering protestors but was still a more than competent display by this clever politician. But I think the Daily Telegraph summed up perfectly the content of his speech in their editorial and I have copied it below: "Blair's dazzling oratory hides a

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1096321798066918872004-09-27T21:15:00.000Z2004-09-27T21:56:58.520Z

Editorial: Today at the Labour Party conference was very much Gordon Brown's day. The confident Chancellor shone in the delivery of his speech, even if his vision is a little patchy. He set out his vision for a third Labour term, his goal of a progressive Labour consensus sweeping through the UK, a mixture between enterprise and fairness. The speech was well written, the pauses and intonation in

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1096319195011254512004-09-27T20:55:00.000Z2004-09-27T21:06:35.013Z

Over the last two weeks I asked two questions that were relevant to news at the time or to some of the stories we had published. Here I announce the results. In the first poll the results were pretty resounding. When asked: "Would you support ANY form of positive discrimination within the Police?" * "Yes it must be welcomed and is essential" ~ 0% * "Yes, with a heavy heart" ~ 8% * "I am unsure" ~

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1095273653104189912004-09-15T18:38:00.000Z2004-09-24T18:25:12.100Z

Well I am just about to complete a hectic final freshers week at university, but while I have stopped posting, politics has gone on. Many things have happened; the terrible hostage situation in Iraq, the Lib Dem conference, and some new policies being announced by all the main parties. I hope to begin posting again this weekend and finally take the website to where I hope it can reach in terms

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1094827287383248172004-09-10T14:30:00.000Z2004-09-10T16:32:06.400Z

After my own article this morning, calling for a compromise regarding smoking in public places, I received another article, expressing different views from a friend. So here, in the first of I hope many pieces, Ethan Hurlington argues for a full ban on smoking. Happy debating! "Sorry Sir, smoke is included with your soup." For my first piece on this site I didn’t think it would be on a subject

Editornoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1094816453937996452004-09-10T11:27:00.000Z2004-09-10T11:52:58.750Z

I am taking a short holiday to Prague tomorrow in order to refresh myself for my final year at university, which begins a week tomorrow! Therefore please expect no posting whatsoever at least until my return next Thursday. This may be delayed a little however, as I have to do my duty and enjoy freshers week.....again! Thus please expect patchy posting levels for the next two weeks. In order to

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1094815517190833962004-09-10T11:21:00.000Z2004-09-10T11:25:17.190Z

The Daily Mail comments: Keep it up, lads! "Stung my criticism of their pitiful performance against Austria, England's footballers are refusing to talk to the media. Hallelujah! Wouldn't it be refreshing if this pack of posturing, overpaid, under-performing pinheads were made to maintain their silence until they actually won something?" This Editor says: Hear, Hear!

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1094813934686879922004-09-10T10:07:00.000Z2004-09-10T10:58:54.686Z

The BBC has been championing its "Healthy Britain" campaign this week, a campaign I am largely in favour of. As a country we really do not need to watch what we eat more, lead healthier lives and try and reduce the number of future health problems we are storing up. While I am fundamentally opposed to government going too far and forcing people in to certain life style choices, I do believe more

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1094810678624464252004-09-10T09:45:00.000Z2004-09-10T10:04:38.623Z

Simon Jenkins wrote an interesting article in the Times this week about the future of the NHS. Please feel free to read it and give us your views.

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1094758081763621382004-09-09T19:09:00.000Z2004-09-09T19:55:45.296Z

With a General Election likely to be less than a year away, all the major parties are beginning to freshen up their top teams, fine tune the manifestos and crank up the political volume. As most readers will probably recognise the Editor of this website is a Conservative and thus, as long as the Conservatives do not lurch to the extremes I am likely to support them. But equally some readers may

Editornoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1094659325326958982004-09-08T14:52:00.000Z2004-09-09T09:35:43.913Z

Editorial: The Conservatives announced their policy over tuition fees yesterday and I must admit to feeling a mixture of delight and concern over some aspects of it. I have always felt it was going to be an error by Michael Howard to maintain Iain Duncan Smith's idea of scrapping fees outright. In my view it was concieved initially as an eye catching policy to pander to a largely reactionary tide

Editornoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1094562893882760552004-09-07T13:54:00.000Z2004-09-07T13:17:23.933Z

Editorial: I am delighted to see that the new Scottish Parliament building is finally open for business. Yes it has cost too much money, at least ten times over budget, but now it is here we must all endorse it and make it work. As an English student living in Scotland, I do try to keep up with as much Scottish politics as possible. Devolution is here now and we really do have to make it work,

Editornoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1094479636016238912004-09-06T13:24:00.000Z2004-09-06T14:25:08.410Z

Editorial: As I read reports this week regarding the National Black Police Associations desire to see some quotas brought in to the Police force, I could not help but get frustrated. The whole idea is both misguided and plain wrong. Talking to the BBC, Supt Ali Dizaei said that if two applicants of the same standard - one black, one white - were interviewed for a job and were the same standard,

Editornoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1094411180921719632004-09-05T18:41:00.000Z2004-09-06T11:13:40.396Z

The latest results are in from our "Question of the Moment" series. We wanted your views on ID cards. Did you think they were necessary? Would you accept them with a heavy heart? Or, did you concur with the UK Information Commissioner that we risk "sleeping walking into a surveillance society?" We asked such a question because in the current international climate; where the fight against

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1094225240760175592004-09-03T15:16:00.000Z2004-09-03T15:28:46.320Z

Most people will by now, have realised my love of the "Liberal Democrat Watch" website. It perfectly monitors the trials and tribulations of the party with a vital mix of fact and humour. But in recent days the Liberal Democrats new President; failed Mayoral candidate and failed party leader candidate Simon Hughes has been doing his best to undo all Charles Kennedy's attempts at not overplaying

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1093603072619646082004-08-27T10:28:00.000Z2004-09-05T19:23:12.960Z

I continue to be impressed by the good feedback and increased activity the site is receiving, especially as the number of posts dries up during the summer recess. I am continuing to develop links and ideas for the site, as well as trying to persuade as many people I know to help write for the site and to get the debate rolling and the arguments started! I am certain this will happen over the

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1093602491078229292004-08-27T10:05:00.000Z2004-08-27T10:43:44.910Z

It has been a quiet week once again at UK Future. As I desperately try to navigate my way around my disseration topic, while trying to wean myself off the Olympics. I would never have thought that one television control, BBC interactive and tales of sporting successes would keep me so pre-occupied! Here are a few things that have catched my attention over the past few days: Competitive Sports: Lo

Editornoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1092913604227516272004-08-19T10:22:00.000Z2004-08-19T11:31:24.220Z

Editorial: As the long summer days keep on going, I am left with the distinct feeling they are forgetting to come to Lancashire. In fact with the terrible landslides and flooding of recent days I think summer forgot the UK altogether. But at last I have found a few things to briefly write about. A-level results: I must admit all the language used by Education Minister David Milliband about those

Editornoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1092682556233944062004-08-16T18:42:00.001Z2004-09-05T19:24:04.426Z

As part of my attempts to get some feedback on issues of significance at various times, I decided, when developing this blog, to include an opinion poll at the bottom of the page. It is neither particularly scientific or fraud-proof, but I hoped it would spark some debate and get people thinking about whatever issue it raises. Last week I asked: "What are your views on the future direction of the

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-109256082877205712004-08-15T09:02:00.000Z2004-08-15T09:07:08.773Z

As I was undertaking my regular rounds through the really good blogs, I came across this great assessment of the latest Conservative law and order plans by Anthony Wells. Anthony writes with great detail, insight and structure, and his article raises a number of interesting points about Labour's attempts to fight the Conservatives on law and order, when we are still the most trusted party in this

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1092484778976625292004-08-14T11:56:00.000Z2004-08-14T11:59:38.976Z

Most of you may have realised the distinct lack of posts over the last five days. Quite simply I have been hectic at work, and this has limited my time to spend writing. It has been made worse when politics is in a little bit of a summer lull. I do not intend to take a full summer break, but over the next couple of weeks, the updates will be a little less regular - I estimate about twice a week.

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1092077753558608492004-08-09T18:12:00.000Z2004-08-09T19:47:27.380Z

Editorial: I am delighted that Michael Howard will call for a return to traditional values of respect and personal responsibility in a speech in Middlesborough tomorrow. Howard's call for a transformation in discipline, starting in the class room, combined with stressing the pivotal role of fathers in bringing up children are both ideas I strongly support. First, sensible levels of discipline in

Editornoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1092068373734342172004-08-09T15:19:00.000Z2004-08-09T16:28:20.350Z

The Sunday Comment (on Monday!) Call it a lean weekend or whatever, but I have only just got round to writing the Sunday Comment. The topic I have chosen actually only came to me last night, when flicking over to the grand final of 'Restoration' on BBC2. Although I never actually watched the series throughout, it was refreshing to witness a 'winner takes all' programme with a more sensible,

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1091905201145248932004-08-07T18:56:00.000Z2004-08-07T19:00:01.146Z

Following on from our guest editorial today, we have had a recent online article pointed out to us. The article on the Telegraph's website, gives an interesting update on this issue. Read more.

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1091871907379991412004-08-07T09:31:00.000Z2004-08-07T10:04:56.473Z

Today we publish our first guest editorial. Humphrey Lewis writes for the Conservative Soul website, a website that is concerned amongst other things about an "unacceptable bias against the non-left in broadcast news." Here Humphrey explains in a powerful way, how it is essential that the Conservative Party changes its name, and as a result improve its brand. As he told UK Future: "What we need

Editornoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1091796793754509392004-08-06T12:35:00.003Z2004-08-06T17:32:35.476Z

Well the first week of www.ukfuture.net is nearly over and I just wanted to say a big thank you to you all for making it a great success. I honestly never expected that setting up a blog and then advertising it would be so time consuming, but the hard work has been worthwhile, as I have received a healthy number of visitors, many positive emails and a great welcome from fellow bloggers who have

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1091738155277137472004-08-05T19:26:00.000Z2004-08-06T17:29:45.173Z

Policy Suggestion: Tackling binge drinking. The Editor of this site was pleased to here that 1,900 people had been handed fines over the last four weeks in a government driven assault on drink related crime. Such crimes cause far too many problems and cost a lot of money to deal with, (£20 billion at the last estimate) furthermore they seem to feed off and expand the rising problem of binge

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1091634428452588722004-08-04T15:17:00.000Z2004-08-07T10:10:40.243Z

Editorial: I have been delighted and indeed surprised with the British government's determination to celebrate Gilbraltar's 300th birthday and not bow to Spanish pressure to pull out. The Spanish government is claiming foul play, they are offended and think the celebrations are afront to them. Sadly they are talking a lot of rubbish. For 300 years Britain has held sovereignty over the territory,

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1091560668693949722004-08-03T19:06:00.000Z2004-08-06T17:41:52.256Z

NEARLY three years on from the September 11th attacks, the Statue of Liberty finally reopened today. With considerable amounts of time and money having been spent to make sure the statue can be protected, the icon that perhaps best symbolises America's unique character and her pursuit of liberty is now ready again to welcome millions. From immigrants to tourists, over the years the Statue of

Editornoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1091371466806881892004-08-01T14:35:00.000Z2004-08-06T16:56:03.436Z

News Update: Tim Yeo MP has shown himself to be a Conservative politician with his head screwed on today, with his comments about the party on the BBC. Yeo claimed that the party had to "raise its game" further, but realistically argued that it had made good progress under Michael Howard over the last year. Yeo continued to suggest that the issue of leadership was not the problem, something this

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1091356839356461952004-08-01T09:54:00.000Z2004-08-06T16:56:39.606Z

Editorial: Over the last few days I have read my newspaper with increased interest as the Football Association and England's manager show off their more scandalous side once again. The manager has had another affair and this time he might have lied to his employers about it. Such a sorry saga may have no direct links to politics, but I would like to suggest it does raise a few wider questions for

Editornoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1090958351496556892004-07-27T19:21:00.000Z2004-08-06T18:01:42.750Z

Editorial: Another week goes by and yet another collection of post-mortem's and reports on the progress of the Conservative Party go public in the British press. And, like the patient with the mystery illness, the one no Doctor quite knows what to do with or what to perscribe, the Conservatives are victims of confused diagnosis. A dilemma that makes finding a solution all the more difficult.

Editornoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1090576106712961752004-07-23T09:47:00.000Z2004-08-06T16:57:49.343Z

Editorial: Well, well, well. Tony Blair has put one finger up to the great British public this week with his nomination of Peter Mandleson to be the next (and only) EU Commissioner from the United Kingdom. In doing so the Prime Minister has shown he has very little consideration for the idea of good ethics in high office. He has appointed a man, who for all his top qualities and obvious

Editornoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1090576027059226252004-07-23T09:46:00.001Z2004-08-06T18:07:24.393Z

Editorial: The government announced this week their intention to postpone two of the proposed referendums in to regional government which were planned for November. The North West and Yorkshire and the Humber, will now not have votes, but the North East still will. The government claims this is because they want to wait for the electoral commission to report on the feasibility of all postal

Editornoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703606.post-1090426580189563972004-07-21T16:15:00.000Z2004-08-07T19:41:11.176Z

Welcome to UK Future - "The website for informal political analysis and discussion." The idea behind this website came to me about 12 months a go. I wanted to develop a place on the internet that would provoke informal political debate and get people to develop their own opinions. I wanted to develop a website where policies of the non-left in particular could be discussed and developed for the

Editornoreply@blogger.com0