Gary's views

Gary's weekly views

Each week an article by Gary has appeared in the Plympton Plymstock and Ivybridge News in South West Devon. The articles are published here

REAL POLITICS

I guess the start to the year has simply reinforced most people’s attitudes towards politicians. George Galloway’s starring role as a hand-licking cat on Big Brother has captured the headlines, followed closely by revelations of drinking problems and now a lurid rent-boy scandal, causing resignations and distress. We’re all at it surely? The country is going to the dogs.

Its probably enough to make you want to join the growing list of 200,000 Brits who are leaving this country every year to live abroad, although I suspect the weather may have something to do with it. But before you reach for your passport, I would like to put in a plea of mitigation for the defence:

1) Although politics seems to attract more than its fair share of people with energy to burn in strange ways, the plain truth is that most MPs are just ordinary people, working hard, doing our best, and worrying about bringing up our kids like everybody else. Sorry, to report this, but most of us are very boring. The system has to be big enough to accommodate the odd maverick, and in the end it is the local electorate that can boot someone out.
2) It may not feel like it, but when you consider that we have a media literally trawling through our rubbish bins looking for snippets and offering cash for stories on us elected types; when you consider that there will by now be precious few skeletons that have not been weaselled out and splashed on gory front pages, the numbers of real scandals is mercifully few.
3) Although the personal antics of a few might catch the headlines, in fact the real work at Westminster is very serious and everyday important decisions are made by intelligent people trying to do the right thing.
Over the next few weeks we will be grappling with: whether the government gets its education reforms through to improve the schooling of our children; how we should make sure that paedophiles are prevented from working with children; what will we do if Iran gets a nuclear bomb and tries to wipe out Israel; whether we should replace our aging generation of nuclear power stations and if not how else we will keep the light bulbs on; how to tackle anti-social behaviour and the scourge of drug and alcohol related violent crime.
Well, I would say that wouldn’t I? Yes, because I believe it to be true.

posted by Nigel on Tuesday, January 31, 2006

Gary's weekly views

Each week an article by Gary has appeared in the Plympton Plymstock and Ivybridge News in South West Devon. The articles are published here

REAL POLITICS

I guess the start to the year has simply reinforced most people’s attitudes towards politicians. George Galloway’s starring role as a hand-licking cat on Big Brother has captured the headlines, followed closely by revelations of drinking problems and now a lurid rent-boy scandal, causing resignations and distress. We’re all at it surely? The country is going to the dogs.

Its probably enough to make you want to join the growing list of 200,000 Brits who are leaving this country every year to live abroad, although I suspect the weather may have something to do with it. But before you reach for your passport, I would like to put in a plea of mitigation for the defence:

1) Although politics seems to attract more than its fair share of people with energy to burn in strange ways, the plain truth is that most MPs are just ordinary people, working hard, doing our best, and worrying about bringing up our kids like everybody else. Sorry, to report this, but most of us are very boring. The system has to be big enough to accommodate the odd maverick, and in the end it is the local electorate that can boot someone out.
2) It may not feel like it, but when you consider that we have a media literally trawling through our rubbish bins looking for snippets and offering cash for stories on us elected types; when you consider that there will by now be precious few skeletons that have not been weaselled out and splashed on gory front pages, the numbers of real scandals is mercifully few.
3) Although the personal antics of a few might catch the headlines, in fact the real work at Westminster is very serious and everyday important decisions are made by intelligent people trying to do the right thing.
Over the next few weeks we will be grappling with: whether the government gets its education reforms through to improve the schooling of our children; how we should make sure that paedophiles are prevented from working with children; what will we do if Iran gets a nuclear bomb and tries to wipe out Israel; whether we should replace our aging generation of nuclear power stations and if not how else we will keep the light bulbs on; how to tackle anti-social behaviour and the scourge of drug and alcohol related violent crime.
Well, I would say that wouldn’t I? Yes, because I believe it to be true.

posted by Nigel on Tuesday, January 31, 2006

Gary's weekly views

Each week an article by Gary has appeared in the Plympton Plymstock and Ivybridge News in South West Devon. The articles are published here

SMOKING

In a week or two there will be a debate in the Commons and a vote on whether or not we should ban smoking in all public buildings, including all licensed premises. The bill currently going through the House allows a number of exceptions, especially pubs and clubs where no food is served. There is a great deal of pressure to extend the ban to all public buildings.
This issue involves tension between public health and freedom.
We all know that smoking causes major health problems, costs the National Health Service and the taxpayer a fortune every year and can seriously impact the health of non-smokers through the curse of passive smoking.

On the other hand, we live in a country where for centuries smokers have long enjoyed the freedom to light up a fag and fill the room with their smoke. That is the British way: freedom to live as we choose provided there is no direct harm caused to others, even if it harms ourselves, even if our irresponsibility carries great risks and a public price tag. Several constituents have written to me urging me to use my vote to allow this precious freedom to continue.

But I have decided not to. I will vote for a full ban. I have no doubt that a total ban would come in anyway in five years or so, as has happened in Ireland and other countries. The owners of aeroplanes, trains, many restaurants and hotels are all moving in that direction. This issue has momentum and we may as well accept the inevitable and move to a full ban now.

Also, the evidence about the harm and cost caused by this bizarre habit are growing steadily and it is time to address this head on. I am particularly concerned that more and more teenagers are taking up the dreaded weed, and that can only add to the Health bill in years to come. The ban on advertising did little to slow this trend.

But my main reason for voting for a ban is because the perils of passive smoking have got to be tackled. Any person who smokes using a filter is actually inhaling less cacogenic substance than the person standing next to him, who does not have that protection.
People will remain free to smoke in their own homes or outside. But for all the non-smoking workers, drinkers and diners, it is time to take a stand.

posted by Nigel on Tuesday, January 31, 2006

Gary's weekly views

Each week an article by Gary has appeared in the Plympton Plymstock and Ivybridge News in South West Devon. The articles are published here

CHRISTMAS 2005

I always enjoy the run up to Christmas. It normally means a festive feast of mince pies and carol services – nice work if you can get it! By the time you read this, I will have enjoyed my fifth carol service of the season.

I particularly take pleasure in watching the antics and body language of the school choirs wheeled out to perform in front of an intimidating sea of suits and faces. Last Friday at the Lord Mayor’s carol service in St Andrews Church, Ridgeway Choir did a very professional job under the energetic leadership of their dynamic music teacher.

Woodford Infants were also a delight. I will never know how men got to run the world. At primary level the girls are so much more grown up and in command. We watched as a pig-tailed young lady in the front row marshalled the forces of the pupils around her, most of the boys gazing into space or fidgeting while the girls remained focussed and sang like angels. Dotted in between lessons read by the great and the good, the refreshing innocence of the youngsters captured our hearts.

The Dockyard carol service is of a different ilk, with the impressive percussion of the Salvation Army and all of us belting out the familiar lines with gusto. I never was much of a singer. On more than one occasion a uniformed dignitary in front of me would glance back over his shoulder after some particularly discordant rendition, eyebrows raised. It would cause me to sing more quietly for a while, until enthusiasm for the words and tunes took over again and I roared on in squeaky zeal.

Everywhere you go excited young children are queuing to see Santa in his grotto. How bizarre that someone has decided that it is no longer appropriate that youngsters can sit on his lap, but have to sit on a chair beside him. Is that really necessary?
Some people ask: don’t you get fed up with hearing the same message and the same carols so many times at Christmas. My answer is always the same: no, because you can never have enough of the truth.

Besides it gives me a chance to hear again and again my all time favourite bible verse, written 2,760 years ago: “the people living in darkness have seen a great light”.
It came to pass at the first Christmas. It remains true today.
Have a great Christmas

posted by Nigel on Thursday, January 12, 2006