I was asked what Socialism was ...

 This is it

Begging email from the tories ~ Brilliant Reply by Billy J Wells

On the 22nd of January 2016 I received this email from the Tories. I was thinking of responding but decided it wasn't worth my time as they would take no notice anyway and just continue pumping out Lie after Lie after Lie. Then I came across someone who had responded and in a far better way than I ever could and not just because he's ex forces but because its accurate on all points that the Tories continue to lie about.

Do we really want to elect a political party based on whether it can lie better than the rest? Because if you voted Conservative that's what you voted for ... THE BEST LIER.

Just for clarity, I've posted the email sent to me, Billy will have received one in his name and replied to that.... so now that's cleared up.

The [LIE1] etc comments I have added, please check a video to see what was actually said, dont believe the Tory press which is 95% of newspapers. Everything they say is misquoted.

So Tory email at top and below is Mr Wells eloquent reply, Bravo Mr Wells who can be found here ... https://www.facebook.com/billyjwells



Dear Gary,
This week, we had yet another warning that the Labour Party are a threat to our national security.
Labour have said they would weaken Britain's defences by having a nuclear deterrent without any nuclear weapons [LIE1], they would negotiate with Daesh terrorists [LIE2], and they want to end the Falkland Islanders' right to self-determination [LIE3].
Gary, it may be Labour's defence policy to have no defence, but we must make sure that it will never be Britain's.
It’s clearer than ever that Labour are a threat to our national and economic security. And with their candidates standing for election up and down the country this May, we need your help to stop them.
Donate today to ensure that we can deliver national and economic security for the working people of Britain.
Best wishes,

Rt Hon Michael Fallon MP
Secretary of State for Defence


The below is by Mr Billy Wells and all credits to him for it.

Dear Mr Fallon,
It's the Conservative party who I fear not to protect us. Recently Cameron took us to Syria putting this country under threat of street massacres of the kind we have seen in France. You have cut our forces, subs without nuclear weapons is no more ridiculous than aircraft carriers without aircraft only Mr Corbyns plan is to have an alternative weapon on board those subs. May I ask what you have on board those aircraft carriers instead of aircraft?

Wasn't it Margaret Thatcher who refused to negotiate with terrorists in the form of the IRA? Wasn't it negotiations that brought about peace and stopped the killing? I wonder how many deaths could have been avoided had Mrs Thatcher done the right thing and I can't help wondering if Mr Corbyn has a point when talking of back door negotiations with Deash. Fighting fire with fire just creates a bigger fire and haven't we already done enough damage in the Middle East already? Has it made the world a safer place? Maybe just maybe it's time to try something else, maybe it's time we did what's right and stay out of wars.

As an ex soldier I see moral in the forces at an all time low, a smaller armed forces and a poorly equipped one at that. We are no longer a world power and I for one have had enough of our politicians voting to kill and putting our lives in danger. Bombing another country is not defending our shores which, is what our defence forces should be there for and no more.

It's you the conservatives I do not trust.

You take from people like me then have the audacity to ask me to donate money to your cause. How much are putting in out of your own pocket? I would sooner burn my money than support a heartless lying bunch of elitist privileged fools who have no idea what it is to struggle to feed, clothe and stay warm. Nothing this government has done has helped me, I had a nice little business but thanks to the lie of austerity that both you and I know is only about shrinking the state, I am now struggling to keep a roof over my head. You are destroying the NHS, selling assets owned by me and other tax payers at knock down prices, stealing from the poor and giving to the wealthy. How dare you ask me to support the conservatives.

I could go on but I have wasted enough time on your begging letter but just to make it clear. I AM A MEMBER OF THE LABOUR PARTY I DO NOT WANT EMAILS BEGGING ME FOR MONEY TO HELP YOUR CAUSE. STOP SENDING ME EMAILS.

Your sincerely B. Wells

Did the last Labour Govenment cause the financial crisis

NO THEY DID NOT, BANKS THE WORLD OVER CAUSED THE GLOBAL CRASH

Banks the world over were investing in riskier and riskier investments hoping to make bigger and bigger profits, because they felt they couldnt fail. That in a nut shell is the reason for the global crash. The crash of Lehman Brothers was a big factor in this again a greedy bank overstretching itself. [More here]

Its amazing how this one just seems to perpetuate despite being absolutely incorrect.

Probably caused by Labour's insistence on not dealing with the public belief, installed by the Tories, that the crash was caused by Labour. The fact is its just not true and they should have all have fought against the Tory propaganda.

But lets stick to facts and not what Labour should have done.

Lets not have rose tinted glasses on either because no government is going to be perfect and Labour wern't, but they were much, much better than they have been painted by the Tories and the economy the Tories were handed in 2010 was already in recovery. Unfortunately the austerity policies stopped the recovery in its tracks and instead we had the longest period of stagnation ever. [More here]

1. On the eve of the crash, U.K. government debt was 28 percent of gross domestic product, compared with 48 percent in the U.S. and an average of 43 percent in the euro area.
2. One of the biggest things that Brown did was kept us out of the Euro that shielded the UK when the crash came in 2008. [More Here]
3. At the start of 2007, there were few economists expressing concern at government borrowing running at 36% of GDP. By post-war standards, UK government debt was low and the government appeared to be meeting its own reasonable fiscal targets. [More Here]
4. Given the period of strong economic growth, it is unsurprising that Labour wished to increase spending on health care and education. If the financial crisis hadn’t materialised, we may have looked back on the great moderation with kinder eyes. [More Here] 
5. By 2007 Labour had reduced public sector borrowing slightly below the level it inherited from the  Conservatives. And  more  of that  borrowing  was  being  used  to  finance  investment rather than the day to day running costs of the public sector. Labour had also reduced public sector debt below the level it had inherited.  [Source Institute for Fiscal Studies]
6. Brown handed over the power to set interest rates to the Bank of England. This contributed hugely to economic stability. [More Here]
7. In 1997 national debt was £352bil in 2010 it was £902bil = £550bill so over 15 years Labour increased debt by £550 billion and most of that debt was caused by the the subprime crash.
8. In 2010 national debt was £902bil in 2015 its £1,637bil = £735bill so far in 5 years the Tories have increased debt by £735 billion, and there is no world crash happening and no banks to bail out that was all done under Labour.

THE Letter how could we not mention the letter.

Much was made over the letter or rather note left by Liam Byrne for the incoming Chief Secretary which turned out to be Liberal Democrat David Laws. The Joke note similar to one left by outgoing Tory chancellor Reggie Maudling in 1968 read. [More Here]

“Dear Chief Secretary, I’m afraid that there is no money. Kind regards and good luck! Liam.”

The note was disclosed at a press conference with one word changed by Osbourne and Laws that made all the difference. They added 'left' ... I’m afraid that there is no money left.

In 1964, outgoing Tory chancellor Reggie Maudling left a note for his Labour successor, Jim Callaghan:

“Good luck, old cock. Sorry to leave it in such a mess.”

Callaghan reportedly thought he was talking about the state of his office at first, before he looked at the books. [More Here]

The note was nothing more than a Joke but made into oh so much more by Laws and Osbourne who claimed they had no idea of the attention it would receive. Sorry, I'm not falling for that one, the pair of you knew exactly what you were doing from changing the word, to not releasing the actual letter. Everyone could have seen much earlier what was actually written if the letter was released sooner but that few days made all the difference.

CONCLUSION

With hindsight, Labour prior to 2007 could have reduced spending and paid down some of the debt. At the time things were going well and an election was coming up. Would the Tories have done any different? Any goverment likes to get some good feel out there towards the end of their term. Noone was complaining about investment in Schools and Hospitals and the Finacial crash would have required someone with a crystal ball to foresee. Brown was a long way from perfect but the two main things he did keeping us out of the Euro and giving the Bank of England control of setting interest rates, have done unmeasurable good for the UK economy.

Its also noteable that the Conservatives backed all of Labours spending plans in the commons prior to 2008. Why didnt they oppose them if they were that bad?

Did Labour cause the Finacial crisis, NO. 

In 2007 when Lehman Brothers went bust Labour was left with some hard decisions like bailing out Northern Rock and RBS. Had Brown not kept us out or the Euro things would have been much worse.

The question people should be asking is why, with all the Conservative austerity, has the debt risen by more than 70% to over £1.6 trillion?

Why?  Where is the money going? 

Why with the debt increasing did Osbourne in 2014 give £93billion away in tax concessions to big companies? [More here]

Sources

Government debt under labour 1997-2010
 
Jeremy Corbyn is right to blame the banks, not Labour, for the financial crisis

Labour overspending did not trigger financial crash, says senior civil servant

Government borrowing, debt and debt interest: statistics

A way forward for the centre left on deficits

United Kingdom national debt

United Kingdom Government Debt to GDP

Gordon Brown's U.K. Economic Record: A Reassessment

The origins of the financial crisis

Subprime Mortgage

Bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers

Case Study: The Collapse of Lehman Brothers

The Death Of Lehman Brothers: What Went Wrong, Who Paid The Price And Who Remained Unscathed Through The Eyes Of Former Vice-President

How One Hastily Scrawled Note Came To Haunt Labour In The Tightest Election In A Generation

Treasury chief's note to successor: There's no money

Labour Anger Over Ed Miliband's BBC Question Time Interrogator, Catherine Shuttleworth

Financial Crisis & Recessions

Hopes for UK economy

The myth of record debt

The £93bn handshake: businesses pocket huge subsidies and tax breaks

How big is the problem?

What’s the best way to reduce the deficit?

So, how was it for you, Gordon?

David Cameron and the national debt monster in three charts
 

The Tories failed promises - Debt

The one figure the Tories haven't yet managed to manipulate is debt ... They promised to eradicate it in one term .....they FAILED. Oh no sorry that was deficit but doesn't matter they FAILED to do that as well.

They've now promised to eradicate it by 2020 they will FAIL. By 2020 it is projected that the national debt will be £1.78 trillion. [More Here]

They lost the UK its Triple A rating, meaning all interest on debt went up at a stroke. 

Currently UK debt is £1.6 trillion and growing at a rate of £5,170 per second. Osborne borrowed more in 4 years than Labour did in 13. 

UK National Debt Clock - DebtBombshell

The debt was £800 billion when the Tories took over, the Tories have more than doubled it. So in these times of austerity where is this money going? 

Please someone tell me, with all the cuts being made, how the Tories have managed to spend more than ANY UK government in post war history and please don't insult any ones intelligence by saying its in any way Labours fault.

Its interesting to note the history of national debt the figures don't lie [More Here]  
The other thing to remember when the UKs debt was at its highest the Labour Government started the NHS we wouldn't have an NHS if the Tories had been in power at the time.

Source http://www.economicshelp.org

Or the more accurate percentage of GDP

Source http://www.economicshelp.org

The common myth spouted by the Tories is that Labour created the debt by overspending. One word answer RUBBISH and here's why....

The banks created a world crash by investing in bad debt basically gambling with our money. 

Gordon Brown has been widely credited for his prominent role in the G20 rescue operation for the world's economic and financial system in the face of the crisis of 2007-2008, and less wisely credited for delivering the British economy to the Conservative/ Liberal Democrat Coalition in much better shape than they ever acknowledged. [More Here]

“The fact of the matter is that the British economy was already making a remarkable recovery in the first half of 2010, but the Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition stopped that recovery in its tracks”

Most of the deficit was the result of the impact of the banking crash on tax revenues, and on government spending, as unemployment rose. Brown's strategy was that both the UK and the rest of the European economy needed to grow out of the depression, and that it was vital not to cut back on the expansionary fiscal policy until recovery had been evident a lot longer than a few months.

Instead, the Coalition wildly exaggerated the scale of the ' problem' and introduced a policy of austerity which dampened those 'animal spirits' of businessmen. The UK then experienced three years of what shadow chancellor Ed Balls termed 'flatlining' , followed by the slowest economic recovery on record. What is more: this sorry state of affairs has meant that even the theoretical justification of it - the target of eliminating the deficit within the lifetime of the 2010-15 Parliament- will manifestly not be achieved. [More Here]

And it wasn't and probably wont be by 2020 either.

United Kingdom: National debt from 2010 to 2020 (in billion pounds)
The UK’s Government Debt since WW2
http://www.nationaldebtclock.co.uk/
http://conservativehome.blogs.com/files/ge_4pg-newspaper.pdf
The history of the NHS in England
The history of Britain's national debt
Osborne increases debt more than Labour did over 13 years
Finally! Exposed! The Deficit Myth! So, David Cameron When Are You Going to Apologise?
UK National Debt
Gordon Brown Saved Britain... and May Even Have Saved the World

Being made redundant in 2016 Happy New Year

It hasn't happened yet and it might not happen, but I should know by Tuesday 22nd December 2015, three days before Christmas day. HAPPY CHRISTMAS.  Either way myself of one other lucky fucker will be without a job by Tuesday.

Its not the fact that its Christmas, I'm not religious, but to choose the time of the year when there are very few union representatives around and very few people are employing anyone at this time of year is low even for a company like HP.

After all everyone is at Christmas Parties, enjoying themselves, walking around with Santa hats on, thinking of making their way back home, pondering a nice little break where nothing happens, because everyone is off...... yeah!

Apart from running my own little company fixing phones, laptops and PCs for people to make up a few quid. I'm employed by HPCDS a subsidiary of HP, yup sorry lets name and shame. I thought Capita was bad but according to the Union rep HP are worse. Apparantly they will do anything, anything, to pay out as little as possible in any redundancy situation. Not my words but the union reps.

So anyway I work for HPCDS at o2 in Slough as a IT engineer. I used to be a union rep and Its amazing how ineffectual unions are now, unfortunately im also a lone voice as no one else would join the union. HP are being very effecient and have obviously done this many times before. So basically we are being processed, it feels like part of a slick operation, the process being to move the chosen one along the conveyor belt, crossing the T's and dotting the i's as we go and make sure there is no chance of any kind of legal challenge.

With the change to employment tribunals it now costs approx £1200 to take a case to tibunal. Who's got that kind of money having been made redundant?

The worse thing is there are 6 people, collegues, work associates that we now have to pit each other against. Obviously you hope it wont be you as it buys you a little more time over christmas. But by doing so it means your hoping someone else loses their job, its a quandry that I have to say, Im not comfortable with.

So thanks for that HPCDS/HP just because you feel that the redundacy has to go ahead 1 week before Christmas you've actually put me in the position that I will feel better if its actually me that loses their job and even if its not me it will still be shitty.

How fucked up is that.

21 MP's that attend Arms Manufacturers Dinner vote to bomb Syria

The below 43 MPs all attended a dinner as guests of various Arms Manufacturer companies. £250 a head, yes you heard right. Quite what you get on your plate for £250 a head Im not sure and I doubt I ever will be in a position to find out.

I thought it would be interesting to check up on the companies, just to see if any of these MPs have any links to them listed in the MPs register of members financial interests and also to check which ones voted for Bombing Syria.

This is a work in progress but as you can see 21 out of the 43 MPs who attended the Arms manufacturer dinner, voted for bombing in Syria. Only 6 voted against (I wonder if they'll be invited next year?)

f ~ at the start designates voted for (21)
a ~ at the start designates voted against (6)
ab ~  at the start designates abstained (0)
dnv ~  at the start designates did not vote (0)
nmp ~ at the start designates no longer MP (14)
l ~ at the start designates a Lord not MP (2)

Parliamentarians listed on the final guest list for the ADS Annual Defence Dinner, 3 February 2015

MP,                        Party,                    Constituency,    ADS, dinner:, guest, of....

nmp ~ James Arbuthnot, Conservative, North East Hampshire, Guest of BAE

f ~ Margaret Beckett, Labour, Derby, South, Guest of Rolls Royce

nmp ~ Gordon Birtwistle, Liberal Democrat, Burnley, Guest of SAFRAN

f ~ Nicola Blackwood, Conservative, Oxford, West, and, Abingdon, Guest of ADS

nmp ~ Vince Cable, Liberal Democrat, Twickenham, Guest of ADS and a speaker

f ~ Alun Cairns, Conservative, Vale, of, Glamorgan, Guest of Raytheon

f ~ Neil Carmichael, Conservative, Stroud, Guest of ADS

f ~ Nick Clegg, Liberal Democrat, Sheffield Hallam, Special Adviser, Alex Dziedzan, attended as guest of Raytheon

f ~ Vernon Coaker, Labour, Gedling, Guest of ADS,

nmp ~ Brian Donohoe, Labour, Central Ayrshire, Guest of Airbus

nmp ~ Gemma Doyle, Labour, West Dunbartonshire, Guest of BAE

f ~ Philip Dunne, Conservative, Ludlow, Guest of ADS, plus, Private, Secretary, Tom, Burden

f ~ Tobias Ellwood, Conservative, Bournemouth, East, Guest of Cobham

f ~ Graham Evans, Conservative, Weaver, Vale, Guest of ADS

f ~ Mark Francois, Conservative, Rayleigh, and, Wickford, Guest of BAE

f ~ Mark Garnier, Conservative, Wyre, Forest, Guest of Airbus

f ~ Robert Goodwill, Conservative, Scarborough, and, Whitby, Guest of ADS

f ~ James Gray, Conservative, North, Wiltshire, Guest of ADS

nmp ~ Nick Harvey, Liberal Democrat, North Devon, Guest of Cobham

f ~ Gerald Howarth, Conservative, Aldershot, Guest of Farnborough International

f ~ Kevan Jones, Labour, North, Durham, Guest of Marshall ADG

a ~ Ivan Lewis, Labour, Bury, South, Guest, of, Bombardier, w, ith, assistant, Heather, Vernon

a ~ Julian Lewis, Conservative, New, Forest, East, Guest of Airbus

a ~ Ian C. Lucas, Labour, Wrexham, Guest of Finmeccanica

nmp ~ Peter Luff, Conservative, Mid Worcestershire, Guest of Northrop Grumman

nmp ~ Mary Macleod, Conservative, Brentford and Isleworth, Guest of Raytheon

f ~ Jason McCartney, Conservative, Colne Valley, Guest of ADS

nmp ~ Andrew Miller, Labour, Ellesmere Port and Neston, Guest of SAFRAN

a ~ Madeleine Moon, Labour, Bridgend, Guest of Finmeccanica

nmp ~ Michael Moore, Liberal Democrat, Berwickshire Roxburgh and Selkirk, Guest of Selex ES

f ~ Penny Mordaunt, Conservative, Portsmouth, North, Guest of BAE, Systems, Maritime, Services

l ~ Lilian Neville-Jones, Conservative, Lords, Guest of ADS

a ~ Chi Onwurah, Labour, New, castle, upon, Tyne, Central, Guest of ADS

nmp ~ Andrew Robathan, Conservative, South Leicestershire, Guest of Atkins

f ~ Laurence Robertson, Conservative, Tew, kesbury, Guest of SAFRAN

nmp ~ Alison Seabeck, Labour, Plymouth, Moor View, Guest of Babcock

a ~ Owen Smith, Labour, Pontypridd, Guest of Airbus

l ~ Clive Soley, Labour, Lords, Guest of ADS

f ~ John Spellar, Labour, Warley, Guest of GKN

nmp ~ Mike Thornton, Liberal Democrat, Eastleigh, Guest of Eaton Aerospace

nmp ~ Paul Uppal, Conservative, Wolverhampton, South West, Guest of ADS

f ~ Heather Wheeler, Conservative, South Derbyshire, Guest of ADS

f ~ John Woodcock, Labour, Barrow and Furness

COMPANIES

GKN

Automotive industry company

GKN plc is a British multinational automotive and aerospace components company headquartered in Redditch, Worcestershire. Wikipedia

CEO: Nigel Stein

Headquarters: Redditch

Founded: 1902

Subsidiaries: GKN Driveline, Fokker Technologies, Westland Helicopters, Williams Hybrid Power Limited

BAE Systems

Aerospace company

BAE Systems plc is a British multinational defence, security and aerospace company headquartered in London in the United Kingdom and with operations worldwide. Wikipedia

CEO: Ian King

Headquarters: United Kingdom

Founded: November 30, 1999

Subsidiaries: Detica, MBDA, BAE Systems Australia, more

Safran

Aircraft engineering company

Safran S.A. is a French multinational aircraft engine, rocket engine, aerospace-component, and security company. Wikipedia

CEO: Philippe Petitcolin

Headquarters: Paris, France

Founded: May 11, 2005

Subsidiaries: Snecma, Turbomeca, Messier-Bugatti-Dowty, SMA Engines, PowerJet

Raytheon

Defense contractor company

The Raytheon Company is a major American defense contractor and industrial corporation with core manufacturing concentrations in weapons and military and commercial electronics. Wikipedia

Headquarters: Waltham, Massachusetts, United States

CEO: Thomas A. Kennedy

Founded: 1922, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States

Subsidiaries: Websense, Raytheon Missile Systems, Sarcos, more

Founders: Vannevar Bush, Laurence K. Marshall, Charles G. Smith

Airbus Group

Aerospace company

Airbus Group SE is a European multinational aerospace and defence corporation. Seated in Toulouse, France, the group consists of the three business divisions Airbus, Airbus Defence and Space, and Airbus Helicopters. Wikipedia

CEO: Tom Enders

Headquarters: Leiden, Netherlands

Founded: July 10, 2000

Parent organization: Daimler AG, Lagardère Group, SOGEADE

Subsidiaries: Airbus, Airbus Defence and Space, more

Rolls-Royce Holdings

Energy company

Rolls-Royce Holdings plc is a British multinational public holding company that, through its various subsidiaries, designs, manufactures and distributes power systems for aviation and other industries. Wikipedia

Founded: 1906, Manchester

Headquarters: London

CEO: Warren East

Founders: Henry Royce, Charles Rolls

Subsidiaries: Rolls-Royce Power Systems, more

Cobham plc

Manufacturing company

Cobham plc is a British manufacturing company based in Wimborne Minster, Dorset, England. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index. Wikipedia

Headquarters: Wimborne Minster

CEO: Robert T. Murphy

Founded: 1934

Subsidiaries: Aeroflex Inc., Cobham Aviation Services Australia, more

Bombardier Inc.

Company

Bombardier Inc. is a Canadian multinational aerospace and transportation company, founded by Joseph-Armand Bombardier as L'Auto-Neige Bombardier Limitée on January 29, 1942, at Valcourt in the Eastern Townships, Quebec. Wikipedia

CEO: Alain M. Bellemare

Headquarters: Montreal, Canada

Founder: Joseph-Armand Bombardier

Founded: 1942, Valcourt, Canada

Subsidiaries: Bombardier Transportation, Bombardier Aerospace, Short Brothers

Babcock International

Corporation

Babcock International Group plc is a multinational corporation headquartered in the United Kingdom, which specialises in support services managing complex assets and infrastructure in safety- and mission-critical environments. Wikipedia

Headquarters: London

CEO: Peter Rogers

Founded: 1891

Subsidiaries: Defence Support Group, Bond Offshore Helicopters, Bond Air Services, Bond Aviation Group, Australian Helicopters

Northrop Grumman

Aerospace company

Northrop Grumman Corporation is an American global aerospace and defense technology company formed by Northrop's 1994 purchase of Grumman. The company was the fifth-largest defense contractor in the world as of 2015. Wikipedia

Headquarters: Falls Church, Virginia, United States

CEO: Wesley G Bush

Founder: Jack Northrop

Founded: 1994, Denver, Colorado, United States

Subsidiaries: Northrop Corporation, Newport News Shipbuilding, more 



https://www.caat.org.uk/issues/influence/resources/2015-02-03.ads.dinner-parliamentarians.pdf

Pregnant activist crashes glitzy arms industry dinner, urges guests ‘consider career change’

Anti-arms trade campaigners criticise MPs for attending lavish industry dinner