Archive for the ‘British current affairs’ Category
So how is Jeremy Corbyn doing after his storming re-election as Labour leader?
December 12th, 2016 by Roger Darlington
Some of my friends, and even some members of my family, have been enthusiastic supporters of Jeremy Corbyn as leader of the Labour Party. They pointed out that Corbyn’s meetings attracted huge numbers and that many thousands were flocking to join the party. And, of course, in the recent leadership election, Corbyn was returned with […]
Posted in British current affairs | Comments (0)
What should baby boomers do to stay healthy?
December 9th, 2016 by Roger Darlington
I am officially a ‘baby boomer’ because I was born between 1946 and 1964 (actually in 1948). According to a BBC news item, England’s chief medical officer Professor Dame Sally Davies has called on people aged between 50 and 70 to keep working to stay healthy. In a report on the health of the so-called […]
Posted in British current affairs, My life & thoughts | Comments (0)
How should the consumer voice be heard in company policymaking?
December 7th, 2016 by Roger Darlington
In her campaign to become leader of the Conservative Party and in her time as Prime Minister, Theresa May has talked of consumers and workers being on company boards and there is currently a Government consultation on corporate governance that looks tentatively at this subject. The consumer organisation Citizens Advice invited me to do a […]
Posted in British current affairs, Consumer matters | Comments (0)
An excellent example of why a free society needs independent trade unions
October 28th, 2016 by Roger Darlington
GMB, the union for professional drivers, has won their case against Uber as the London Employment Tribunal has determined that Uber has acted unlawfully by not providing drivers with basic workers’ rights. GMB brought two test cases to the Central London Employment Tribunal on 20 July 2016 and it has decided that Uber drivers are […]
Posted in British current affairs | Comments (0)
So how is Jeremy Corbyn really doing?
October 11th, 2016 by Roger Darlington
Clearly the guy is very popular with party members: he has just been re-elected leader by an increased margin, record numbers of new members are flocking to join the Labour Party, his meetings are packed out, and they are even organising a series of concerts in his support. What do members see in Corbyn? Somebody […]
Posted in British current affairs | Comments (0)
Was the pound’s flash crash caused by an algo?
October 8th, 2016 by Roger Darlington
The financial markets are a world unto themselves that ordinary people simply cannot understand – but we are all affected by movements in currencies and shares whether buying foreign currency for a holiday abroad or trying to maintain the value of our savings or pensions. So this week’s experience of the value of the pound […]
Posted in British current affairs, Internet | Comments (0)
I’ve voted in the Labour Party leadership election
August 22nd, 2016 by Roger Darlington
Voting in the Labour Party leadership election opened today. I voted online today. In the last leadership election, Jeremy Corbyn was bottom of my list and his time as leader has confirmed my worst anxieties. He simply cannot lead: his chairing of the Shadow Cabinet is appalling; he has lost the confidence of 80% of […]
Posted in British current affairs | Comments (0)
Why is it Team GB and not Team UK?
August 14th, 2016 by Roger Darlington
It’s been ‘super Sunday’ today for the British in the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro with the nation storming into second place in the medal table. But why are our competitors called Team GB and not Team UK? Surely Northern Ireland should not be missed out? If only it was that simple. Technically our […]
Posted in British current affairs | Comments (0)
As if the Brexit decision wasn’t bad enough, now tea sales have fallen
August 11th, 2016 by Roger Darlington
We can’t blame younger people for the referendum decision – apparently most of them voted for the UK to remain in the European Union. But it seems that we can blame them for the fall in sales of teabags – they drink less tea than older people. In a short feature in today’s “Guardian” newspaper, […]
Posted in British current affairs | Comments (0)
Half of low income households at risk of missing out on vital welfare benefits
July 19th, 2016 by Roger Darlington
You hear a lot of political propaganda in this country and others about how so many people choose to live on welfare benefits as a lifestyle choice when allegedly they could simply go out and obtain satisfying paid work. The reality is, of course, utterly different. It is estimated by the Government itself that the […]
Posted in British current affairs | Comments (0)