Walaa's Weekly Wrap-Up ~ November 2, 2013

What was Unite thinking? How can bullying people be acceptable or beneficial to the unions’ cause is beyond me. At a time when even socialists’ support to unions is a cautious undertaking, someone in Unite union thought it was a good idea to target the homes of Gangemouth refinery mangers to put pressure on them and their families. Unbelievable!

This comes from the body founded mainly to protect works and their rights? The tactics, the manner by which it was conducted and Unite insisting that all its activities have been legal and legitimate make me and many wonder if it is time for unions to go. Because they no longer do what they were founded to do and that is to protect and give voice to vulnerable workers against tyrant bosses.

Unite’s latest stunt, the so –called ‘leverage tactics’ is disturbing. I wonder, will Labour now seriously consider their affiliation with them and their money?

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Is it just me, or do others feel the same about HS2. First, I do understand the importance of an efficient and reliable train line that connects the country from north to south. We have many existing lines that could be improved to meet that demand, especially as HS2 will only shave a few minutes from the current journey time, so why not improve what we already have?

Second, I get the feeling that even its supporters are not too convinced by its financial cost, its cost to the countryside, or the extent of its benefits. Many seem to sit on the fence. The arguments for its benefits, in journey time and cost are weak and unconvincing to say the least.

Don’t get me wrong, developing the country’s infrastructure is an important matter both economically and socially and a strong transport network is at the heart of it. I am sure HS2 has its long term benefits, but neither the politicians nor the economists have convinced me why we need to make a decision right now.

So why can’t the decision to build it be tabled till after 2015. When the economy is hopefully stronger, our finances are much better and the case for HS2 is clearer. I don’t usually resort to men and women comparisons, but in this occasion I think a woman’s touch is needed; I see too much testosterone and not enough common sense.

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Its open primaries’ season, I hear there is a big one today in Tonbridge and Bath had one yesterday. Last parliament about this time I would have been all over Prospective Parliamentary Candidates’ (PPC’s) selections; know everyone and probably applying to some sections myself. You see I wanted to become a member of parliament and not just any MP but a Conservative MP. Actually, this website and blog started as a result of that quest. My journey, that desire and why they changed is a long story and a very fascinating one, I promise to tell it all one day.

For now, I am glad the party is using open primaries, they are more engaging. I hope in the future they become larger and more diverse.

Best of luck to all those who are fighting them.

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