Norman Gandy

In memory of my Uncle, 2nd Engineering Officer Arthur Norman Gandy, who, on 28 March 1943, together with the Master and crew of SS Silverbeech died when torpedoed by U-159 which was part of the Seeraeuber Patrol Group (U 105,67,123,159,167,172,513,&515).  They had no chance.

David Petraeus

Apart from being an acknowledged cheat, liar and adulterer, General Petraeus is completely wrong. UK would not "retreat to the perceived safety of isolation."  This is a preposterous notion.  The UK would maintain and develop whatever security arrangements are considered necessary for the defence of the Nation, starting with NATO.

Questioning EU's Open Borders

I read that David Cameron said it was "inappropriate" to discuss the border arrangements in the aftermath of the Brussels attacks.  I wonder if the word he might have meant, in the circumstances, was "inconvenient?"

Another Budget Disappointment

As George Osborne’s latest budget, the fourth in a year, begins to unravel; inter alia, the miracle of a budget surplus in 2020 shown to be the sleight of hand that it is, with the chorus of disapproval over disability benefits rising and the prospect of another year of “austerity” after the next election exposed, we begin to see this latest manoeuvre for what it is – shameless political manoeuvring.

Perhaps the Chancellor would wish to forget his criticism of a predecessor for failing to fix the roof whilst the sun was shining.  Following a £27b accounting windfall in November we now find that we must borrow £116b over the next 3 years in order to keep the financial plan on track.  The national debt, incidentally is now over £1500b and has doubled since George Osborne became Chancellor.  The interest on the national debt, at £46b per annum, is now about what we spend on defence. The pathetic misquoting of the OBR, pointing to a period of uncertainty following a Brexit vote, reinforcing project fear, has backfired.  In any case, the possibility of financial uncertainty following a Brexit vote which might lead to increased costs of servicing this obscene national debt is, of course, not an argument for remaining in the EU.  It is, quite simply, a prima facie case for borrowing less and paying back more and anyone who really cared about the “next generation” would have done something about it.

For what it’s worth, I would expect that the next generation would be most concerned about:

•  Our woeful lack of productivity
•  Our second class education system
• Our chaotic and unaffordable energy policy
• The spectre of saturating immigration further encouraged by the minimum wage.
• A joined-up national transport plan
•  Pulling our weight in the Atlantic alliance

Now, if the Chancellor really was concerned about doing the right thing, perhaps he might have made a start on some of the above?

Trade with Iran

Trebles all round as European aerospace manufactures celebrate the order by newly acceptable Iran for no less than 118 Airbus airliners and 40 ATR (French Italian manufacture) 72-600s. Meanwhile, Liam Halligan, writing in the Sunday Telegraph following a week in Iran, salivates at the economic prospects on offer.  It is probably convenient to overlook the threat which a nuclear armed Iran was deemed to pose and that lifting economic sanctions depends upon compliance with IAEA verification that there is no cheating.  With European (French) noses firmly in the Iran trough, let us hope that the ever vigilant Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, does not raise any inconvenient difficulties over Iranian nuclear compliance!