Walaa’s Weekly Wrap-Up ~ March 2nd, 2014

Happy March!

Due to technical problems this blogpost is posted much, much later than I expected. Hope you enjoy it all the same.

The week was mostly dominated by Angela Merkel’s visit, net migration figures, Nick Clegg’s over exposure plus Farage and Ukip.

During her one day visit Mrs Merkel had a private sit-down with the PM, addressed both houses of parliament and had tea with the Queen.

Her visit had all the hallmarks of an ally with different believes yet great respect for her friend. I also get the sense both Dave and Angie genuinely like each other.

She showed that she accepts the need for a new treaty and changes, and specifically said that free movement could be looked at, to deal with benefit tourism.

Not quite what Cameron and the Conservatives wanted to hear but it is the best a Europhile leader can offer them.

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Net migration is up 58,000 to 212,000 most of which is from the EU where members are exercising their right for free movement.

Everybody considers the figures to be on the high end of the scale, but Vince Cable seems to think otherwise. He said: “those figures are good news because the reason net immigration is going up is because fewer British people are emigrating and surely that’s a good thing – people are getting jobs here.”

Don’t think Mrs May shares his enthusiasm. But boy what a moral boost will they make in Ukip’s conference.

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Is Nick Clegg over exposed?

Some think the DPM is in danger of becoming over exposed. They think he is doing a lot of talk shows, giving regular press conferences and making too many appearances to the extend school kids are becoming too familiar with him!

The question everyone asking, is all that exposure good for Mr Clegg? But what they should be asking, is it accidental or by design?

It’s tough being the Kingmaker when after one term in coalition politics everyone is determined to go it alone, even in a minority government rather than partner with you. And he knows that. All this talking is Mr Clegg selling himself and his party. With the threat of Ukip on the horizon, everybody is on their toes, holding their breath and waiting in anticipation for the outcome of this May elections. Some do their waiting quietly while working their programme; others do it with grabbing the headlines and staying on the forefront of the news.

But as my papa, who talks very little, used to say; “The more you talk, the less people want to hear from you!”

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Ukip had their Spring Conference this weekend. It’s their last big gathering before the European and local elections in May which their leader, Nigel Farage describes as “the moment we have been waiting for” and will be “the biggest political shock in modern British history”

That remark cuts both ways.

But as we all know, the public, in particular the British public likes the underdog and prefers the understated.

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You really cannot make it up!

Labour’s latest attack is directed at Waitrose, for offering their myWaitrose loyalty card members a free coffee, and (with other purchase) a free newspaper. “They are taking away business from small coffee shops and local newsagents” and that is wrong said Labour.

This is madness gold!

Labour is most definitely becoming more and more the party of killing aspiration and suffocating enterprise!!

Getting punters though the doors is the number one priority of every business, and Waitrose found a genius way to do it. Instead of applauding them and encouraging others to emulate them or come up with similar ideas to increase their custom, Labour rather shoot the Waitrose idea down.

WOW! Labour would rather shut down innovation than encourage and support it. Is the Labour party so bent of destroying any and all ambition in this country?

In Arabic there is a saying used to describe those who won’t help but don’t want others to help either, its literal translation is “Unmerciful, yet won’t allow Allah’s mercy to come down on us”

If the shoes fits….

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