In sport as in life, supremacy is seldom sustained. The England cricket team are nearing the half way mark of a Test series against the Australians having been installed as the pre-tournament favourites. As they prepare to go two down with three to play, it is instructive to examine the effect of such expectations.
Jonathon Trott returned home after the first Test match citing a stress-related illness. Until recently, he had been the solid, dependable number three batsman on hand to dig deep and provide solidity to the England batting line up. His departure has left the England team in disarray. As the Australians score runs and take wickets for fun, England look a shadow of the side which has been ranked number one in the world until quite recently. From captain Cook downwards, they all seem to have suffered a crisis in confidence as a hitherto laughing stock of a bowler has proceeded to tear them apart.
Since the inception of the Premier League, Manchester United have finished in the top two in all twenty-one seasons bar three. As the reigning champions they entered this season with high hopes of adding another title to their impressive collection. Such expectations were dashed though when their erstwhile manager Alex Ferguson elected to retire at the end of the season. His successor David Moyes has been in a no win situation from the moment he left Everton. The irony of losing to his former club in the week can't have been lost on him. His new club are performing like a mid table club thus far and the impact of Ferguson's departure continues to exert it's aftershock. All the while, Ferguson looks down from the stands as his successor lurches form one crisis to another.
The news this weekend has of course been dominated by the death of Nelson Mandela. It is a mark of his influence on the world stage that he continues to dominate discussions even after death. In truth, those who succeeded him in the new South Africa always had a tough act to follow and for Mandela achieved, progress since his retirement has been slow.
Putting aside the Mandela story, one story has emerged to dominate the political debate in the UK. The decision by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority to recommend an 11% pay rise for Members of Parliament has met with a predictable outcry. Predictable because the media has honed in on the headline figure rather than attempting to analyse it in context.
Until recently, MPs in the UK were happily fiddling their expenses en masse and would still be doing so had it not been for the investigative journalism of the Daily Telegraph. The rest were happy to run with the story and MPs, for a time, occupied a place in society on a par with bankers, estate agents and lawyers. The proposed increase would still see their overall pay at about the same level as it was when they were fiddling expenses. We have to ask ourselves why they were fiddling their expenses in the first place. Were all MPs just dishonest on was their existing salary inadequate for the purposes of living in London and working in Westminster? I don't believe they were all dishonest but neither do I believe their salary was inadequate for the job they do. They did what most people do in most walks of life if given the opportunity. They sought to gain as much advantage as they could out of the system imposed upon them. This does not make them right or wrong. It just confirms their human nature.
Since the 2010 election and the arrival of the coalition, UK politics has been dominated by the cutbacks imposed to try and address our burgeoning national debt. I don't think the coalition had a choice in this although various parts of the media seem to suggest they did. As one Labour minister said to his coalition successor when leaving office in 2010, "Good luck, there's no money left - we've spent it all". It would funny if it weren't true but sadly it was true. Since that time, we have a succession of calls to spend more money on the NHS, on local Government, on education, and on a host of other departments. The problem remains. There is only a finite amount to go around.
For all that, I remain vehemently opposed to the HS2 project when there are so many areas so badly in need of financial investment. I am instictively against us becoming overly reliant on the State to provide and do everything for us but equally recognise that certain quarters will always rely on the State.
It has just been announced by the Welcome Foundation that there are a record number of people in work unable to make a living. Social security dictates that we are expected to survive on roughly £50 per week while the minimum wage currently stands at £6.31 per hour for those over the age of 21. The two biggest drains on the salary of those on the minimum wage are undoubtedly heating costs for their homes and transport costs be it fuel for their car or the fare for public transport. Undoubtedly, food inflation has also contributed hugely to their outgoings.
The anomaly which concerns me the most is that many people expect the State to intervene in such matters and yet they are loathe for their MPs to earn a salary which is lower than many of the professions. There is a well known mantra which asserts that we get what we pay for and the danger here is that we will forfeit a large number of MPs for a new batch who may not provide such value for money. They may well prove to be more cost effective and particularly if they come from business backgrounds in the private sector. It is the latter which must be re-ignited to achieve lasting economic growth again. Ploughing money in to the State will only serve to further expand the already top heavy Public Sector. We need a smaller State, not a bigger one. For lasting jobs and employment opportunities we need to grow manufacturing, industry and the business sector.
Thus for the MPs of today be they members of the coalition or not, they are caught between a rock and a hard place. They are chastised if they earn too much and chastised if they fail to provide enough State support for general society. It has always been tough at the top and seldom more so than now. Opposition parties always aim to criticise the strategies of the incumbent but should do so with caution. Unless they have viable alternatives of their own, criticism fails to provide solutions. As much as Ed Balls must be galled by the recent upturn in the economy, he does not suggest a better alternative. In fact, he continues to espouse the levels of spending which landed us here in the first place.I repeat, I am no fan of the proposed HS2 project but I do support the measures implemented by the coalition.
When Harold Macmillan claimed, "You've never had it so good", he was right. Since he said that in 1957, his claim has remained valid. Compared to what our forebears had during the first part of the twentieth century, we have had an improved quality of life. Improved, not perfect. Perfection is an aspiration but improvement is a welcome compromise. We still have a health service which continues to treat us come rain or shine. We still have an education system which continues to provide us with the opportunity to make the most of ourselves and we continue to enjoy relatively low levels of personal taxation.
Since Macmillan's day, we have become accustomed to having more. More of us run cars. More of us own our houses. More of us have holidays abroad. The progress is comparative. We are not rolling in money and it's true that food banks are now a part of everyday life as indeed are charity shops. Their is no shame in that. Charity is not a new phenomenon and has always provided for the less fortunate in our society. There is undoubtedly much to which can aspire, but there is equally much for which we have cause to be grateful.
When Dvaid Moyes succeeded Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, it would not have reasonable to expect the success to continue. When England departed for Australia, they had no right to expect to just turn up and win. When the coalition came to power, they had no right to expect their policies to be embraced and loved but then neither did they have much choice. Yes, it remains tough at the top. Some of their policies such as HS2, the sale of the Post Office and their massaging of the housing market have been plain wrong and history will bear out this assertion. Many of their decisions though have been forced upon them and history will bear this out too.
Sunday, 8 December 2013
Saturday, 7 December 2013
Take it to the limit!
What a week it's been. Of course, events were dominated by the death of Nelson Mandela. It would be churlish not to recognise the magnitude of his achievement. Like Gandhi and Martin Luther King before him and like Aung San Suu Kyi after him, Mandela fought the human injustice in front of him. It takes strong characters to effect such change and all these people carried themselves with immense dignity. That is the key. Bluster and bravado seldom achieve change. We are ultimately judged on the way in which we conduct ourselves and each of these titanic characters has done so with admirable restraint. That two of them were assassinated merely illustrated the extent of the hatred which they had to contend with.
Prison can achieve a certain amount but it is irrelevant in the face of a strong will. I can remember with clarity debating the release of Mandela in 1984 while at Debating Society. I recall few debates which invoked such passion. It seems to strange now to look back and consider that Mandela was still in prison, apartheid was still the normal way of life and the Berlin Wall stood strong and proud. In one generation, much has been achieved. All the people to whom I referred at the start of this piece strived for equality and all achieved great progress in that direction.
Equality though remains a largely Utopian ideal and while we all applaud the demise of apartheid and the Berlin Wall, the world remains a very unequal place. As we descend on the shops in our droves to celebrate a festival whose religious relevance is fast receding, millions starve. Millions also remain homeless with not a penny or a possession to their name.
Any change is gradual and without the efforts of Gandhi, Mandela et al, we wouldn't even be where we are today. This week, we have reacted with uproar to news that we will be expected to work until we are 68. We should think ourselves lucky we have work to go to and an income with which to live. We take all this for granted because we have come to expect a certain standard of living. In truth, we have no right to such expectation because the expectation is not based on anything other than what went on before our time.
Gandhi was a giant among men yet his beloved India still remains a country of enormous wealth and crippling poverty. For all she has achieved, Aung San Suu Kyi remains in the minority in the face of a military regime in Burma and poverty continues. While Dr King did much to end racial segregation in America, racism continues. Mandela was quite right to point out that nobody is born to hate; it is their upbringing and the society around them which teaches them how to. In the end then, it is right and proper to celebrate these remarkable people but equally pertinent to recognise how far we have to go. The actions of Anders Brevik in Norway were a stark reminder of the work which still needs to be done. The BNP continue to garner votes in the UK and facism is dangerously on the rise throughout many European countries. A climate of financial austerity is historically the petrol upon which the bonfire of facism thrives. The challenge is to foster stronger community cohesion to repel such tendencies.
In the early 1980s the UK was in a much worse state than it is today financially and that was the atmosphere in which Jerry Dammers wrote the song, "Free Nelson Mandela" which became the anthem for a generation. He was part of the musical genre two tone - the name speaks for itself and the music was wonderful.
Prison can achieve a certain amount but it is irrelevant in the face of a strong will. I can remember with clarity debating the release of Mandela in 1984 while at Debating Society. I recall few debates which invoked such passion. It seems to strange now to look back and consider that Mandela was still in prison, apartheid was still the normal way of life and the Berlin Wall stood strong and proud. In one generation, much has been achieved. All the people to whom I referred at the start of this piece strived for equality and all achieved great progress in that direction.
Equality though remains a largely Utopian ideal and while we all applaud the demise of apartheid and the Berlin Wall, the world remains a very unequal place. As we descend on the shops in our droves to celebrate a festival whose religious relevance is fast receding, millions starve. Millions also remain homeless with not a penny or a possession to their name.
Any change is gradual and without the efforts of Gandhi, Mandela et al, we wouldn't even be where we are today. This week, we have reacted with uproar to news that we will be expected to work until we are 68. We should think ourselves lucky we have work to go to and an income with which to live. We take all this for granted because we have come to expect a certain standard of living. In truth, we have no right to such expectation because the expectation is not based on anything other than what went on before our time.
Gandhi was a giant among men yet his beloved India still remains a country of enormous wealth and crippling poverty. For all she has achieved, Aung San Suu Kyi remains in the minority in the face of a military regime in Burma and poverty continues. While Dr King did much to end racial segregation in America, racism continues. Mandela was quite right to point out that nobody is born to hate; it is their upbringing and the society around them which teaches them how to. In the end then, it is right and proper to celebrate these remarkable people but equally pertinent to recognise how far we have to go. The actions of Anders Brevik in Norway were a stark reminder of the work which still needs to be done. The BNP continue to garner votes in the UK and facism is dangerously on the rise throughout many European countries. A climate of financial austerity is historically the petrol upon which the bonfire of facism thrives. The challenge is to foster stronger community cohesion to repel such tendencies.
In the early 1980s the UK was in a much worse state than it is today financially and that was the atmosphere in which Jerry Dammers wrote the song, "Free Nelson Mandela" which became the anthem for a generation. He was part of the musical genre two tone - the name speaks for itself and the music was wonderful.
Thursday, 5 December 2013
Populism or Realism?
In his Autumn statement today, George Osborne has announced that the UK economy is growing. Whatever happens from here, he will forever be remembered as the Chancellor who made the cuts and tightened our belts. What we need to ask though is what his realistic choice has been?
When the coalition came to power, I seem to recall one outgoing Labour minister informing his successor that there was no money left. That government featured Ed Milliband as Energy secretary and Ed Balls as Education secretary. Both served as willing lieutenants to the Viv Nicholson of British Politics, Gordon Brown. The man who espoused prudence could spend money like few others. Judging by the comments made after meeting a Labour supporter during the last election campaign, it would also be fair to suggest that he didn't take kindly to the views of others either. It would seem that his protege Ed Balls has a similar tendency based on his responses today.
As a nation we have been allowed to become too dependent on the concept that the State will always be there to bail us out if we get in to trouble come what may. That has been a dangerous promise because our available resources, by definition, are always finite. Few seem to remember just how close we were to financial disaster in 2008. The current coalition literally had no choice but to make cuts. The welfare budget had long since got out of hand. The strain on the Health Service was also a huge problem which we continue to deal with today.
The news that our 15 year olds have done so badly at school is possibly the biggest of all indictments of the 13 years of Labour. This does not augur well for our future prosperity. It would serve us well to revisit an old mantra which praised the ethos of saving money rather than spending it. The latter was the problem with the last Labour government and it got ugly when there was no money left. If we are to be truly prudent (albeit that is now something of a toxic word in the light of it's abuse by Labour), we need to realise the merit of having something in reserve for days when we might need it. Having 33% unemployment among those leaving school is not surprising but it is avoidable.
I do think that George Osborne has missed one big trick in this announcement though. Capping small business tax is not enough. He really did need to cut it because small business will drive a bona fide recovery - not home buying. The latter is probably the single biggest factor which did for Brown and co.
As a country we do need to start taking the bull by the horns in terms of fossil fuel dependency so freezing the fuel tax escalator for petrol and diesel is not exactly progressive. This is just fire fighting. Far better to actually promote electric cars and renewable energy and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.
As tempting as tax cuts might have been, Osborne has been right to resist doing so. We need to continue the reality check of making do with the essentials rather than reverting to back to a "have it all" mentality. Compromise is not that difficult if we all want a strong country.
It's also easy to forget that although our recent economic performance has been encouraging, we are not out of the woods by a long chalk. Now is not the time for complacency. We have to maintain the fiscal attitude and carry it in to and beyond the next government. Provided the latter doesn't feature anyone with the name Ed, this should be achievable.
When the coalition came to power, I seem to recall one outgoing Labour minister informing his successor that there was no money left. That government featured Ed Milliband as Energy secretary and Ed Balls as Education secretary. Both served as willing lieutenants to the Viv Nicholson of British Politics, Gordon Brown. The man who espoused prudence could spend money like few others. Judging by the comments made after meeting a Labour supporter during the last election campaign, it would also be fair to suggest that he didn't take kindly to the views of others either. It would seem that his protege Ed Balls has a similar tendency based on his responses today.
As a nation we have been allowed to become too dependent on the concept that the State will always be there to bail us out if we get in to trouble come what may. That has been a dangerous promise because our available resources, by definition, are always finite. Few seem to remember just how close we were to financial disaster in 2008. The current coalition literally had no choice but to make cuts. The welfare budget had long since got out of hand. The strain on the Health Service was also a huge problem which we continue to deal with today.
The news that our 15 year olds have done so badly at school is possibly the biggest of all indictments of the 13 years of Labour. This does not augur well for our future prosperity. It would serve us well to revisit an old mantra which praised the ethos of saving money rather than spending it. The latter was the problem with the last Labour government and it got ugly when there was no money left. If we are to be truly prudent (albeit that is now something of a toxic word in the light of it's abuse by Labour), we need to realise the merit of having something in reserve for days when we might need it. Having 33% unemployment among those leaving school is not surprising but it is avoidable.
I do think that George Osborne has missed one big trick in this announcement though. Capping small business tax is not enough. He really did need to cut it because small business will drive a bona fide recovery - not home buying. The latter is probably the single biggest factor which did for Brown and co.
As a country we do need to start taking the bull by the horns in terms of fossil fuel dependency so freezing the fuel tax escalator for petrol and diesel is not exactly progressive. This is just fire fighting. Far better to actually promote electric cars and renewable energy and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.
As tempting as tax cuts might have been, Osborne has been right to resist doing so. We need to continue the reality check of making do with the essentials rather than reverting to back to a "have it all" mentality. Compromise is not that difficult if we all want a strong country.
It's also easy to forget that although our recent economic performance has been encouraging, we are not out of the woods by a long chalk. Now is not the time for complacency. We have to maintain the fiscal attitude and carry it in to and beyond the next government. Provided the latter doesn't feature anyone with the name Ed, this should be achievable.
Tuesday, 3 December 2013
8 Pieces for Advent
As we approach the beginning of the Christian year, I share with you the eight pieces I turn to for the festive period:-
1. Silent Night - the Simon and Garfunkel version for it's clever use of a poignant news story in the background of this most peaceful of songs. As ever their clever harmonies leave you in awe.
2. I Believe in Father Christmas - Greg Lake wrote this as a protest against the commercialisation of Christmas in 1975 but it was ironically adopted by Sainsbury's supermarket to promote a Christmas sales campaign. The music is based on a piece by Prokofiev and seems somehow to capture the festive spirit better than anu other. The underlying message in the song is timeless and alsmost Dickensian, "The Christmas we get we deserve".
3. In Dulce Jubilo - Mike Oldfield created this masterpiece and drew on the influence of a traditional Christmas Carol from the middle ages. A multi instrumentalist, Oldfield was ideally placed to demonstrate the innate beauty of this song. The tune first appeared in 1305 so proves that a good tune really does stand the test of time! Oldfield was in good company with this tune because it had previously been used by J.S Bach and Franz Liszt to name but a few.
4. Oh Come, Oh Come Emmanuel - The definitive song for Advent. This is the song which spells out the significance of Advent in the Christian calendar and reminds us in our busy lives what all the fuss is about. It's slow pace allows us to reflect while we sing.
5. Christmas - the late poet laureate John Betjeman arguably captured Christmas better than anybody with this timeless poem. This piece demonstrates the brilliance of Betjeman and keeps us hypnotised with familiar images taking us on a journey of rediscovery.
6. It's a Wonderful Life - There were recently rumours afloat that plans had emerged to make a sequel to this 1940s classic. Please don't. James Stewart plays George Bailey in a story which restores your faith in human nature. This needs to be in black and white and is compelling from start to finish. If one film epitomises what Christmas should be all about, this is most definitely it.
7. A Christmas Carol - There is little to add here. Dickens' story set in Victorian London with the immortal Ebenezer Scrooge is the ultimate story of redemption and reminds us all that a second chance is always just around the corner.
8. The Nutcracker - Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky had to go back to the drawing board with this ballet. It was initially panned by the harsh Moscovite critics in 1877. Not one to be deterred, Tchaikovsky thankfully returned with it in 1890 and the magic was born. A timeless story which takes us all in to another world of fantasy. A welcome escape from everyday life which I recommend to anyone.
I have included dance, song, film, poetry and literature so there should be something for everyone.
1. Silent Night - the Simon and Garfunkel version for it's clever use of a poignant news story in the background of this most peaceful of songs. As ever their clever harmonies leave you in awe.
2. I Believe in Father Christmas - Greg Lake wrote this as a protest against the commercialisation of Christmas in 1975 but it was ironically adopted by Sainsbury's supermarket to promote a Christmas sales campaign. The music is based on a piece by Prokofiev and seems somehow to capture the festive spirit better than anu other. The underlying message in the song is timeless and alsmost Dickensian, "The Christmas we get we deserve".
3. In Dulce Jubilo - Mike Oldfield created this masterpiece and drew on the influence of a traditional Christmas Carol from the middle ages. A multi instrumentalist, Oldfield was ideally placed to demonstrate the innate beauty of this song. The tune first appeared in 1305 so proves that a good tune really does stand the test of time! Oldfield was in good company with this tune because it had previously been used by J.S Bach and Franz Liszt to name but a few.
4. Oh Come, Oh Come Emmanuel - The definitive song for Advent. This is the song which spells out the significance of Advent in the Christian calendar and reminds us in our busy lives what all the fuss is about. It's slow pace allows us to reflect while we sing.
5. Christmas - the late poet laureate John Betjeman arguably captured Christmas better than anybody with this timeless poem. This piece demonstrates the brilliance of Betjeman and keeps us hypnotised with familiar images taking us on a journey of rediscovery.
6. It's a Wonderful Life - There were recently rumours afloat that plans had emerged to make a sequel to this 1940s classic. Please don't. James Stewart plays George Bailey in a story which restores your faith in human nature. This needs to be in black and white and is compelling from start to finish. If one film epitomises what Christmas should be all about, this is most definitely it.
7. A Christmas Carol - There is little to add here. Dickens' story set in Victorian London with the immortal Ebenezer Scrooge is the ultimate story of redemption and reminds us all that a second chance is always just around the corner.
8. The Nutcracker - Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky had to go back to the drawing board with this ballet. It was initially panned by the harsh Moscovite critics in 1877. Not one to be deterred, Tchaikovsky thankfully returned with it in 1890 and the magic was born. A timeless story which takes us all in to another world of fantasy. A welcome escape from everyday life which I recommend to anyone.
I have included dance, song, film, poetry and literature so there should be something for everyone.
The pitfalls of difference
As the Scots embark on a last push for independence, the other members of the union look on wistfully. The Welsh in particular make no secrets of their desire for more autonomy. This is all well and good up to a point. Unlike the Scottich, the Welsh have the added complication of their language. As a badge of cultural identity their language has become something upon which to dangle incentives. A new £ 8.5 million Welsh medium Primary School is scheduled for Mid Wales as I write. I wonder whether planning would have been granted if it had been English?
I make this point because we are today reminded of the gulf in standards between Wales and the other members of the union. Education is being delivered poorly in the Principality if the latest figures are anything to go by. We need to question why that should be. Bringing children up with two languages has known benefits to the future acquistion of languages. That is not in dispute here. What the extra language happens to be is of less relevance. The current drive to rekindle the Welsh language comes after the recent census demonstrated it's continued decline. The powers that be in Cardiff are aware that a vibrant Welsh language promotes a separate Welsh culture thus strengthening the case for independence.
While England could weather life without Wales, I'm not so convinced the opposite could be claimed. The over reliance on local government in Wales continues to compromise their progress. They need to grow their private sector if they are to achieve this. This starts in the class room. There are never going to be enough public sector jobs for every Welsh speaking child so the Welsh Assembly needs to start supporting the private sector. Otherwise, the existing trend of a Welsh education which ends up with a working life in England looks set to continue.
The Welsh education system may well be ticking the boxes on language but they are lagging behind in the skills which will secure employment. Numeracy, science and reading skills are the worst in the country. This is no coincidence. The existing obsession with the Welsh language is starting to cost the Welsh in the areas which really matter. The figures don't lie. As laudable as cultural identity is, jobs are more practical for a country seeking to forge a stronger identity.
I make this point because we are today reminded of the gulf in standards between Wales and the other members of the union. Education is being delivered poorly in the Principality if the latest figures are anything to go by. We need to question why that should be. Bringing children up with two languages has known benefits to the future acquistion of languages. That is not in dispute here. What the extra language happens to be is of less relevance. The current drive to rekindle the Welsh language comes after the recent census demonstrated it's continued decline. The powers that be in Cardiff are aware that a vibrant Welsh language promotes a separate Welsh culture thus strengthening the case for independence.
While England could weather life without Wales, I'm not so convinced the opposite could be claimed. The over reliance on local government in Wales continues to compromise their progress. They need to grow their private sector if they are to achieve this. This starts in the class room. There are never going to be enough public sector jobs for every Welsh speaking child so the Welsh Assembly needs to start supporting the private sector. Otherwise, the existing trend of a Welsh education which ends up with a working life in England looks set to continue.
The Welsh education system may well be ticking the boxes on language but they are lagging behind in the skills which will secure employment. Numeracy, science and reading skills are the worst in the country. This is no coincidence. The existing obsession with the Welsh language is starting to cost the Welsh in the areas which really matter. The figures don't lie. As laudable as cultural identity is, jobs are more practical for a country seeking to forge a stronger identity.
Monday, 2 December 2013
Llangattock: The alternative to the Big Six?
As the energy debate rumbles on at Westminster with opposing parties squawking at each other in a vain attempt to cury favour with a weary electorate, a project has been announced which proves that the alleged monopoly of the Big Six is not quite as definite as we have been led to believe.
A Mid Wales community has pooled their resources to raise the £273,000 to build to micro hydro electric turbines to be housed on two local streams. The community at Llangattock and surrounding area is well aware of the benefits of green fuel having won an award last year. The community has already installed solar panels and radiator panels at the school with an air pump heat source. Amazingly, the 43 homes have thus far installed 655 energy saving devices ranging from insulation, solar panels, a biomass boiler and multi fuel stoves.
The community at Llangattock have merely done what the Scandinavians would consider the norm. What is notable is the number of communities which have done little or nothing. Government incentives help of course but people don't need Government help to achieve their dreams. If the people of Llangattock can do this, why are so many other communities not doing likewise?
Every penney invested now by Llangattock makes them a litle bit less reliant on fossil fuels and a little bit more sustainable. Whichever way we look at this, it just makes so much sense. It beggars belief then to observe the present Government ditching some of the green subsidies to try and save Joe Average £50 of his annual fuel bill. If this is the best our Government can do, we really are best off going it alone and seeking the solutions ourselves as done in Llangattock. They have done nothing space age. They have just maximised what they can do for the benefit of their entire community. The "have it all generation" has been taken literally in Llangattock because the entire community will benefit from their investment.
This story should be held up by this Government as a shining light. It should be used to illustrate what people can achieve if they work together in the common interest. It is schemes like this which will render irrelevant the profit margins of the Big Six. Yes, the latter need more competition but we all know that their sheer size makes competition a bit of a nonsense. Don't wait for the Government to advise you, seek the solutions yourselves and relish the independence.
A Mid Wales community has pooled their resources to raise the £273,000 to build to micro hydro electric turbines to be housed on two local streams. The community at Llangattock and surrounding area is well aware of the benefits of green fuel having won an award last year. The community has already installed solar panels and radiator panels at the school with an air pump heat source. Amazingly, the 43 homes have thus far installed 655 energy saving devices ranging from insulation, solar panels, a biomass boiler and multi fuel stoves.
The community at Llangattock have merely done what the Scandinavians would consider the norm. What is notable is the number of communities which have done little or nothing. Government incentives help of course but people don't need Government help to achieve their dreams. If the people of Llangattock can do this, why are so many other communities not doing likewise?
Every penney invested now by Llangattock makes them a litle bit less reliant on fossil fuels and a little bit more sustainable. Whichever way we look at this, it just makes so much sense. It beggars belief then to observe the present Government ditching some of the green subsidies to try and save Joe Average £50 of his annual fuel bill. If this is the best our Government can do, we really are best off going it alone and seeking the solutions ourselves as done in Llangattock. They have done nothing space age. They have just maximised what they can do for the benefit of their entire community. The "have it all generation" has been taken literally in Llangattock because the entire community will benefit from their investment.
This story should be held up by this Government as a shining light. It should be used to illustrate what people can achieve if they work together in the common interest. It is schemes like this which will render irrelevant the profit margins of the Big Six. Yes, the latter need more competition but we all know that their sheer size makes competition a bit of a nonsense. Don't wait for the Government to advise you, seek the solutions yourselves and relish the independence.
Sunday, 1 December 2013
Adelaide: A warning from history!
As England prepare to face up to being one down going in to the Adelaide test, there is much to be learned from the history books. By common consent, one of the finest sides to tour Australia left our shores in 1958. Captained by Peter May, the best England batsman since the war, the first eleven looked formidable on paper. The bowling was taken care of by the small matter of Trueman, Statham, Tyson, Laker, Lock and Bailey. With a career test haul of 1127 wickets, this sextet was more than capable of bowling any side out. The batting was featured Peter Richardson, Colin Cowdrey, Trevor Bailey, Peter May, Tome Graveney, Ted Dexter and Willie Watson. Godfrey Evans was on hand to guard the timbers. By any measure, this was a formidable team whichever eleven was selected. They were odds on favourites to retain the Ashes they had won so comprehensively in 1956. They lost 4-0.
That 1958/9 tour is beginning to look rather familiar. The current England crop were expected to romp home with this Ashes series but have thus far struggled all the way. In 1958, Peter May won the toss at Adelaide and invited the Australians to bat. They scored 476 and won by 10 wickets. Richie Benaud took 9 wickets and essentially won the match having rotated his bowlers very cleverly.
Seven years later in 1965, Bobby Simpson won the toss and decided to bat. He contributed the small matter of 225 runs to the Australian total of 516. With the pace of McKenzie and Hawke, Australia won by an innings and 9 runs as, Barrington apart, England offered no resistance.
On the victorious tour of 1970/71, England won the toss and thanks to an Edrich hundred, scored 470. They declared their second innings after Boycott had added another hundred and the match petered out to a lame draw. As in 1965, England played two spinners in Underwood and Illingworth and as in 1965, the spinners failed to make much impression.
Roll forwards to the ill fated 1974/5 series and the Adelaide test once more resulted in Australian victory. Once again the England captain won the toss and invited the Australians to bat. This decision was made because the England batsmen were in fear of Dennis Lille and Jeff Thomson. This time Underwood took 11 wickets in the match but was let down by some poor England batting. This was the match in which the ageing Cowdrey took his Ashes tests to 42 to go past Hobbs and Rhodes. That he was playing at all reflected the paucity of batting resources available to the England selectors. This of course was the beginning of the Lillee and Thomson fast bowling partnership which would go on to motivate the West Indian captain to create a team which could do likewise but with four such bowlers. Cricket, in truth, was never the same again after that.
The England win in 1979 was more due to the missing Australian Packer players. England won this match due to the second innings batting of Geoff Miller and Bob Taylor - hardly the most reliable pair of batsmen in the side. Taylor fell three short of his ton and was ably supported by Miller. The pace bowling of Willis and the relentless nagging accuracy of Mike Hendrick finished the job off ably supported by the new boy Botham.
I end this review of Adelaide tests in 1982. Just before Christmas, the England captian won the toss and invited the Australians to bat. Greg Chappell scored 115 in their total of 438 and both England innings were poor except for the batting of David Gower who mustered a fifty and a century. This time, Australia won by 8 wickets and the customary two spinners of England yielded precious little.
My advice to Alistair Cook would be to bat if he wins the toss. I would also urge him to think long and hard about playing the second spinner. As a punt, I would go for the sucker punch and drop Swann for Panesar as the Australian batsmen appear to have worked Swann out. Panesar would be a shock selection much as Ashton Agar was last summer. Also, if the England top six continue to bat as they have been doing, they need to prepare for a pasting because the Australians go in to this test with their confidence sky high. Too many of the England top six appear uncertain as to where their next run is going to come from. Oh for a Ken Barrington now to just hold down one end with an "over my dead body" mentality!
The 1958 tourists were the shining example of the difference between a team on paper and a team on the pitch. The current crop bears many similarities and need to start performing again if those reputations are to mean anything. In one sense, their loss at the Gabba has been a long time coming and will hopefully have done them good. The latter will only be achieved if they have gone away from that match and had a good long look in the mirror. The senior batsmen in particular need to start scoring runs and prizing their wickets. This should be their starting point in seeking to come back from one down. To do so down under will be no mean feat.
That 1958/9 tour is beginning to look rather familiar. The current England crop were expected to romp home with this Ashes series but have thus far struggled all the way. In 1958, Peter May won the toss at Adelaide and invited the Australians to bat. They scored 476 and won by 10 wickets. Richie Benaud took 9 wickets and essentially won the match having rotated his bowlers very cleverly.
Seven years later in 1965, Bobby Simpson won the toss and decided to bat. He contributed the small matter of 225 runs to the Australian total of 516. With the pace of McKenzie and Hawke, Australia won by an innings and 9 runs as, Barrington apart, England offered no resistance.
On the victorious tour of 1970/71, England won the toss and thanks to an Edrich hundred, scored 470. They declared their second innings after Boycott had added another hundred and the match petered out to a lame draw. As in 1965, England played two spinners in Underwood and Illingworth and as in 1965, the spinners failed to make much impression.
Roll forwards to the ill fated 1974/5 series and the Adelaide test once more resulted in Australian victory. Once again the England captain won the toss and invited the Australians to bat. This decision was made because the England batsmen were in fear of Dennis Lille and Jeff Thomson. This time Underwood took 11 wickets in the match but was let down by some poor England batting. This was the match in which the ageing Cowdrey took his Ashes tests to 42 to go past Hobbs and Rhodes. That he was playing at all reflected the paucity of batting resources available to the England selectors. This of course was the beginning of the Lillee and Thomson fast bowling partnership which would go on to motivate the West Indian captain to create a team which could do likewise but with four such bowlers. Cricket, in truth, was never the same again after that.
The England win in 1979 was more due to the missing Australian Packer players. England won this match due to the second innings batting of Geoff Miller and Bob Taylor - hardly the most reliable pair of batsmen in the side. Taylor fell three short of his ton and was ably supported by Miller. The pace bowling of Willis and the relentless nagging accuracy of Mike Hendrick finished the job off ably supported by the new boy Botham.
I end this review of Adelaide tests in 1982. Just before Christmas, the England captian won the toss and invited the Australians to bat. Greg Chappell scored 115 in their total of 438 and both England innings were poor except for the batting of David Gower who mustered a fifty and a century. This time, Australia won by 8 wickets and the customary two spinners of England yielded precious little.
My advice to Alistair Cook would be to bat if he wins the toss. I would also urge him to think long and hard about playing the second spinner. As a punt, I would go for the sucker punch and drop Swann for Panesar as the Australian batsmen appear to have worked Swann out. Panesar would be a shock selection much as Ashton Agar was last summer. Also, if the England top six continue to bat as they have been doing, they need to prepare for a pasting because the Australians go in to this test with their confidence sky high. Too many of the England top six appear uncertain as to where their next run is going to come from. Oh for a Ken Barrington now to just hold down one end with an "over my dead body" mentality!
The 1958 tourists were the shining example of the difference between a team on paper and a team on the pitch. The current crop bears many similarities and need to start performing again if those reputations are to mean anything. In one sense, their loss at the Gabba has been a long time coming and will hopefully have done them good. The latter will only be achieved if they have gone away from that match and had a good long look in the mirror. The senior batsmen in particular need to start scoring runs and prizing their wickets. This should be their starting point in seeking to come back from one down. To do so down under will be no mean feat.
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