Sunday 25 November 2007

THE SUNDAY ROAST


Most papers today have extensive coverage of the missing Inland Revenue CD’s. Together with the scathing attacks from ex military dignitaries on the government’s commitment to the armed forces, without a doubt Brown and Co have taken a very real dint in approval ratings, something which I think will linger for many months. The tone of articles in the Sunday Telegraph all create the picture of a government riddled with incompetence, indecision and ineptitude. Browns only defence is the Miliband tactic of “if they can’t see me, the problem doesn’t exist”. Let’s see how far that gets him shall we!

Returning to the papers, it is the Sunday Sun which solves the problem of the missing post. The “Sunday Thought” letter comes from the Reverend Michael Webb, St Michael’s, Alnwick. The Rev Webb writes

“The loss of 25 million people’s data is a serious blow to our trust in Government. Holding our personal details safely is a sacred duty, not just to avoid fraud, but because we believe God knows and loves every individual”.

So that’s fraudsters who potentially have our details, and also God because he knows us.

I wonder if he also knows where the disks are?

(As a little aside, I was listening to a local phone in programme on the radio the other day, the subject matter being how you could get the details of 25 million people onto 2 discs. After 30 minutes of discussion on blueray discs, double density layers etc, a local retired gentleman from Ashington rang in with the answer. He “knew” something about computers, and had solved this problem: the Inland Revenue used a very small font when saving the info!)

The Sunday Telegraph also covers the issue of God and politics, with Tony Blair admitting he referred to his faith when making big decisions. There go Labour again; blaming somebody else for their mistakes.

The Sunday Sun also reveals strange goings on with Labour Party donations. Ray Ruddick, a northern builder who never votes, doesn’t like politicians and in particular doesn’t like The Labour Party, is reported as making a £196,000 donation to the party’s funds (he is the third highest donor). Mr Ruddcick, who lives in a £12,000 council house in Blakelaw, is a bit perplexed by his fame. However, he does work with wealthy property developer David Abrahams, a prominent member of the Labour Party in the north and a not unsubstantial donor in his own right. Mr Abrahams is remaining extremely quite as to whether he made to donation in his friends name. The same also applies to Janet Kidd, also a hefty donator and also rumoured to work as a secretary to Mr Abrahams.

With such large amounts being involved, this matter may draw the attention of various audit bodies, for instance the Inland Revenue, who may well want to know where Mr Ruddick suddenly acquired £196,000 to give away to the Labour Party.

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