Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Eric Boyce

It really is Politicians Behaving Badly season. Last week was the turn of MP for Falkirk, Erik Boyce to enter the MP bad boys hall of fame. Mr Boyce had a glass of Rioja too many, didnt like the fact that there were too many F********(his words not mine) Tories in the House of Commons Bar, and being the action man he is, decided to do something about it. What the retired Major did was do what soldiers do. Combat. Not much to say other than two Conservative members got what I was reliably informed by my Glasgow sources was a Glasgow kiss. Delivered with all the ingedients such kisses are made of. Next stop for the victims, Stuart Andrews and  Ben Manney was A&E

Now a bar brawl is as old as the idea of a bar itself.  Nothing new. But its headline news when such brawls involve lawmakers and extraordinary when the fight takes place within the confines of Parliament. If it was the kind of melee that breaks out during crucial debates or votes due to strong differences in ideology, then we might undesrtand the heat of the moment argument. It shows that the politicinas are passionate about their core beliefs and looking after the interests of those who voted them in. Such fisticuffs miight it even increase the politicians`popularity. That is a noble fight. If it can be called that. But a drink fuelled encounter isnt what we want from our lawmakers. No. The impression we get from such conducts is that of a  a group of care- free chancers, getting wasted on highly subsidized booze and behaving like parts of the anatomy I cant mention on this blog. Being  a family oriented blog.

Eric Boyce has resigned his membership of the Labour Party but will stay on as an independent MP following his conviction. I dont see why he has to resign  from the party but stay on as an MP. If he sees his action as unbefitting of a Labour Member of Parliament, thus making his position untenable, then how can it be OK to be an Independent member of the House. Personally I think he should never have left the party. He let himself down, did a mea culpa, apologised, got his court judgements and that shoud have been that. If he really felt what he did was so gross so as to make him an unsuitable memberof the Labour Party then whay would it make him still worthy of a seat in the House of Parliament?  Or does the Labour Party has higher standards than the House? That is the inference that can be drawn from him staying on as an indepenent MP.


Like I always say, politicians are just like the rest of us They will behave like any  of us would given the same circumstances. But we dont want them to. We want them tobe like us but behave better than us.Every politician must realaize this fact. Im sure they do. Being a politician is a conscious choice they have made. We, the voters expect them to live up to this lofty ideal.  Which means politicians must be morally adroit and beyond reproach. MPs with ASBOS isnt something we want. Not much to ask for in exchange for what being in the corridors of power affords those who canvass for and get our votes.


Drought Fears And Food Prices

Its 2012, Britain has had dip in rainfall for two years and its starvation time. Disaster! How can our harvest be lean and our grain silos empty in a year  we are inviting the world to our country for grand occasions. The Queens`s Diamond Jubillee and the Olympics are just months away and the country is being told life as we know it is about to cease. Why?  There has been a relatively dip in rainfall for the last two years.  A situation said to be affecting farming and food production and invariably would lead to poor harvest, non production of certain farm produce and a hike in food prices. 

The South East has seen the least rain over a couple of years, while the rest of the country has enjoyed a relatively normal rainfall. How many farms are in London? Or  in the whole of the South East for that matter. If the majority of the farms that produce our food are not based in the South East how is it then that the drought in the South East will have such a dramatic impact on food supply and prices.

It boggles the mind that with all the technological advancement and scientific inventions, our  ability to farm and produce food is still largely dependent on and susceptible to the vagaries of nature.  I dont think that befits a nation in the fore front of technology. Even if it doesnt rain at the expected level for three years I think we should stiil be able to carry on at the same level of production. Maybe this is a wake-up call to our policy makers. More attention has to be paid to how we can leverage technology not only for a more effective food production but aslo to save us being at the mercy of nature the way we are now.

Sunday, March 04, 2012

Chelsea Sacks Andre Villas Boas

To be a successful manager in any field or industry takes a lot. Everything has to be right to get the best results. Whatever it is to be a successful manager in the Premiership, Andres Villas Boas hasnt got it. Affable, urbane, young, good understanding of the language but a good manager? No. Not on his performance. Awful. Im a devoted Chelsea fan, have been for 20 years but almost lost interest in the club thanks to Andres Villas Boas.

 The club was being mismanaged. In fact there didnt seem to be any management. A rudderless ship without a captain. Bereft of  ideas or game plan, with the players just making  it up as they went. So it seemed to me anyway. I knew something was going to give sooner or later. And yesterday was the final straw that did it. That 1-0 defeat to West Brom was one slap too much for Abramovich to take. 

Its a decision that will cost the Chelsea owner a few millions.Taking into cognisance the fact that he paid £13 million compensation  to Porto to secure AVB`s services. He would now have to pay the Portuguese compensation for terminating his contract. £5 million is my ballpark figure how much getting rid of Andres Villas Boas will cost the club. How much has Villas Boas already collected in wages? Add all up and the whole saga has set back Mr Abramovich close to £20 million. 


The moral of which is clubs should be weary of sacking managers and even more careful in appointing managers. Ancelotti should never have been sacked. Villas Boas should never have been appointed. Even the assistant coach, Ray Wilkins should never have been sacked. Chelsea never found its footing since Wilkins was shown the door. So the club needs to take its time in appointing a new manager and not be forced into a hasty knee jerk appointment. Good that Roberto Di Matteo, a veteran ex Chelsea player will hold the fort until the end of the season. Enough time to find the right man for the job. 


As for me Im already resigned to Chelsea winning no trophies this season and worse missing out on a place for Champions League football next season.