SCOTTISH VOTE COULD SURPRISE MANY !

There has been more speculation on how SNP candidates will change the future of politics in Westminster, than the economic policies needed to improve life "north of the border" ! 

In Scotland, to represent a population of 5.2 million people, 59 MPs are elected to the UK Parliament in London where a total of 650 UK MPs represent a total UK population of 63.2 Million . 

In the last General Election in 2010 Gordon Brown, the Scottish born Prime Minister, was staunchly backed in Scotland where 41 Labour MPs were elected.   He took over as Prime Minister from Tony Blair in 2007 when the country was in dire straits !  

David Cameron has spent the last 5 years  revitalising the UK Economy and even gave Scotland the chance to vote on Independence or just more Local Governmental powers.  Voters opted for the latter solution which was the most prudent but greatly disappointed the SNP (Scottish National Party). 

The Leader of SNP and a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) Nicola Sturgeon has played a leading role in whipping-up Nationalist sentiments, with the double aim of increasing the number of SNP MPs and then getting another Referendum or Vote for Scottish Independence, but she is not a Candidate in this election !  

More SNP MPs would largely be at the expense of the Labour Party and its 41 MPs elected in 2010, particularly as Gordon Brown has now retired and Ed Miliband, the new Labour Leader is not Scottish but an Englishman living in Hampstead !

Temptation lurks at this point !  Would Labour and SNP be prepared to form a Coalition if there is a hung Parliament ?  Miliband and Sturgeon have a "love - hate" attitude on this.  Anything could happen and nothing is clear !         

Scottish electors are prudent realists !  They proved this in the Referendum !  Will they massively vote again for Labour or now for SNP ? 

Or will they want to avoid unsure solutions by voting in several new Conservatives or LibDems who have been in office and proved that things can get better ?  

What is quite clear is that another referendum on "Independence" must wait !  The next Referendum will be after Cameron has negotiated changes to EU Treaties in Brussels ! 

The Scottish vote next week could change many things, for better or for worse ! 

                                        .

FOOTBALL : BOURNEMOUTH "CHERRIES" JOIN THE ELITE - AT LAST !

After their 3-0 victory last night over Bolton, the Bournemouth "Cherries" will be playing in the Premier League next season for the first time in their history !

This moment has been awaited for a long time, ever since April 1948, when they came second in the old Third Division (South) and stayed at that level for a long, long time !  It was QPR who were  promoted after they beat Bournemouth 1-0 in a mid-week match !

I have always been a QPR supporter but I have also kept a eye open for Bournemouth, often wondering what might have been, had they been promoted in 1948 !  

QPR have had their "ups and downs", moments of Glory and Hell !   The irony today is that  Bournemouth will join the elite and take the place of QPR who will drop into the Second Division again, 12 months after being promoted !

Congratulations Bournemouth and I wish you luck ! 

                                .     

 

IS NICOLA STURGEON SEEKING HIGH OFFICE FOR PERSONAL GLORY ?

What is becoming quite clear is that Nicola Sturgeon wants to become the Deputy Prime Minister either in a coalition with the Conservatives or with the Socialists !  

Of secondary importance are the conditions she would impose for her SNP party !  These seem to depend on who is Prime Minister !  Does this not display a certain amount of arrogance ? 

Should she not now be fighting first of all for her electors, in particular on the issues which need to be resolved and which are still in the domaine of the responsibilities of the Westminster Parliament ?  

She must accept that last year in the Referendum, Scotland voted against total Independence !  She must also accept that this question cannot eternally become an issue each time there is an Election !  

In fact with the increased devolution of responsibilities, do Scottish voters not want to see how Scottish SMPs acquit themselves in their Holyrood Parliament, before again voting "for or against" Independence ?  

The next time the Scottish Electorate "clammers" for such a vote, their then Leader must prepare a Manifesto containing all the hard Financial facts and figures (agreed with the Chancellor in Westminster) justifying the main arguments and effects of Independence (or more Devolution) !  To say the least, those calculations will be complex ! 

Without entering into any of the details in this short article, there are two Acts of Parliament which both sides must also take into account !  They are the Act of Union of England and Scotland in 1603 and the Act of Union 1707. 

If or when there is another "Referendum" should all electors in the UK not have a right to vote ? The "Manifesto" must specify what assets Scotland would obtain in the case of Independence.  Will Scotland get North Sea Oil assets for example ?  They cannot be allowed to "cherry pick" some assets without considering connected obligations !

Timewise would it be reasonable, or even possible, to plan another Referendum within the next 15 years !  

In the current election, Nicola Sturgeon is jumping the gun and confusing voters !                                                                                                          

                                  .   .                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

EU : MORE FEATHER DUSTERS TO STOP IMMIGRANTS !

At a hastily convened Summit of all the Heads of State of the EU yesterday in Brussels, it was decided to triple the Budget allocated for the protection of the Frontiers of the EU ! 

The object is to curb the number of desperate would-be immigrants arriving at the Mediterranian ports, but also to reduce the number of immigrants currently drowning in their capsized boats by hundreds every week !

The immediate question is whether this solution will really change anything in the short or long term ! 

These miserable "immigrants" are in fact "refugees" !  Their homes have been destroyed, their families have been destroyed, they are destitute and had to flee, to save all that they had left, - their lives !

Oppressive Muslim Extremists have stolen their lands by force and aim to establish an Islamic State in the Middle East and, if possible, in Africa as well !  The more refugees that leave, the faster the Islamic "Utopia" can be achieved !   And even then it will not be big enough !

This problem cannot be solved by the EU alone ! Muslim Extremists are already operating "under cover" in countries all over the world !  There are new stories in the media every day ! Nothing really concerted has as yet been decided to combat such Terrorists. 

Should the United Nations not lead the way ?  Economic Unions like the EU can help but NATO and its WARFARE is really needed to fight-off  attacks by belligerent Muslims !  Countries which want to recover their lands and save their people,  would certainly help but are useless alone ! 

Where are the real Leaders in this World ?  There is no longer any time left for diplomacy !   The time for decisions and action has arrived !

                      .    

IMMIGATION MASSIVE : LA FAIBLE REPONSE DE L'EUROPE !

Tripler les moyens alloués au sauvetage en mer des migrants, envoyer plus de navires et d'hélicoptères, telle a été la réponse apportée ce jeudi 24 avril par les dirigeants européens confrontés au drame de l'immigration massive et clandestine.

Une décision humanitaire mais qui ne peut qu'encourager les migrants à tenter leur chance, en ayant maintenant l'assurance de parvenir à bon port ...  Pas de solution donc pour réduire le flux migratoire ou pour accueillir correctement ces nouveaux arrivants.

Certains "esprits malicieux" suggèrent même que les navires aillent chercher directement les migrants, au lieu d'attendre pour intervenir que leurs embarcations soient en perdition... !

DML

 

FIFA : NO NEWS = NO NEW PROBLEMS ?

The 65th Congress of FIFA will take place on May 29, 2015 in Zurich.   The Accounts will be presented and the President of FIFA for the next four years will be elected ! 

Has anything changed since the resignation on December 19, 2014 of Garcia after which Blatter tempored criticisms by promising to publish a redacted version of his Report ?  Since then there has been nothing !  No redacted report has been made available, probably because certain issues are "sub judice" !  This, however, is not an acceptable excuse !  

There are four candidates for the presidency but no public, televised debate has taken place.  Blatter has refused point blanc on all occasions to participate in a debate.  This does not mean that even now the three other candidates could not join a world-wide televised discussion of all matters which merit a public airing !

Blatter could be re-elected for a fifth term of four years because section 30 (2) of the FIFA Statutes  expressly permit the re-election of the President. Other sub-sections have been modified during the last four years, but not sub-section (2) ! 

One cannot say that the reputation of FIFA has not been tarnished during the last four years.  The unpublished Garcia Report has provoked much unsavoury speculation and even allegations of wrongdoings which could lead to criminal prosecutions ! 

The 65th FIFA Congress promises to be explosive ! Will Blatter be re-elected ?   Will the accounts be signed by independent auditors without any reserves ?  Will sufficient provisions be made for ongoing legal problems ?  Will Blatter get all the usual promised votes to ensure his re-election ?

FIFA has become an undemocratic Totalitarian  entity !  If after this Congress nothing changes in FIFA once again, one must hope that someone among the 206 member associations will have the courage to propose fundamental and radical changes !

The game of football belongs to no one person or country or organisation ! 

                                                                                    .

                                           

     

 

SHOULD THE VOTING RIGHTS OF SCOTTISH MPs BE CLIPPED ?

If the SNP party seeks an increase in the rights  delegated to Scotland to govern its own internal affairs, this must necessarily lead to the cancellation of Scottish MPs' rights to vote in the Westminster Parliament on these same issues, if they do not concern Scotland ! 

This clearly highlights the difference between "just more local government rights" and "Total Independence" !  To be absolutely clear, this  concerns ALL Scottish MPs, not just SNP MPs !  This same principle must also apply if powers are delegated to Northern Ireland or Wales !

This issue could well become a rising problem in coming years !  

The Knock-on effect of this Principle would also be seen when regionally elected MPs participate in Coalitions !   After all, you can't have your cake AND eat it !   

                               .