Archive for December, 2009
Decade of distrust reaches an end
The 2000s began with the end of Bill Clinton's US presidency limping out of the Monica Lewinsky scandal. They finished with the UK House of Commons facing a collapse of public trust which is set to result in 1/3-1/2 of MPs leaving or losing their seats in the 2010 General Election, and trust in politicians at an all time low of 13%, according to [...]
After the fire…
Warwickshire County Council did not know what had hit it when thousands of people took to the streets up and down the county to protest proposed cuts to the fire service. The level of public anger was vastly greater than expected. Bosses understood that closing down fire stations would not be popular. But what inflamed residents most was the [...]
Peace and Goodwill
Believing is not in fashion. I have, during the last ten years, sat in countless meetings where people have tried to hammer home their point that it doesn't matter what you believe, as long as you don't act on it. But, at the end of a decade of doubt, it turns out that we did want our politicians to act out of principle rather than greed, and that [...]
Fire delay: cynical political move
We learn today that Warwickshire County Council's Tories have put off any decision on their proposed reduction of the Fire Service indefinitely, by which we understand "until after the General Election." For those who have fought these changes tooth and nail, this is a minor victory, but also a major threat: we have demonstrated to councillors [...]
