Europe Minister Jim Murphy recently gave “a guarantee that parliament can scrutinise the Lisbon Treaty” (mainly because he knows however much its members scrutinise the document they cannot amend even a single word of it and victory is assured by whip).
Not content with having flogged off Britain’s gold reserves at rock bottom prices, and signed up Britain to what is a European constitution in all but name – something his predecessor vowed would not happen without a referendum, it now turns out that Gordon Brown personally authorised abolishing the image of Britannia on the country’s… [Read More]
The Swiss health care system – while certainly not cheap at €4,270 per head – receives international acclaim for achieving both universal coverage and a very high quality of care for all, without the constrained resources that tend to characterise government-controlled systems such as the NHS. Waiting times for treatment are short or non-existent and… [Read More]
Today’s Times contains a report entitled ‘Universities join battle against terror as guidelines’. It tells of how Britain’s university chiefs have finally agreed ‘to inform the police of any extremist behaviour by students or visiting speakers that they suspect may lead to terrorism’. continued on the Centre for Social Cohesion blog.
Parliament is currently debating the passing of yet more powers to the EU, through ratification of the successor treaty to the constitution, most eloquently described by Giscard d’Estaing, former French President and architect of the original document, as ‘the same letter; just in a different envelope’.
Based on a recent report by Civitas, analysis of referral-to-treatment waiting time statistics show that while at the latest count, from October 2007, 59.9 per cent of patients received treatment within the targeted 18-weeks, many NHS Trusts still have a long way to go. Importantly, many of these are are in PCTs that have been… [Read More]
There isn’t that much one can add to this Telegraph report other than to say that it was almost inevitable: independent schools are going to come under increasing regulation in order to ‘justify’ their charitable status. Obviously, merely providing a good standard of education to 500,000 British children just doesn’t cut it anymore as a… [Read More]
A society enjoys social cohesion when, between its members, there exist associative bonds sufficiently strong as to dispose them to be mutually civil and solicitous of each other’s welfare. Associative bonds between the members of any society will be strong in proportion as they share the same beliefs, values and tastes, or at least certain… [Read More]
If fully ratified, the EU’s Lisbon Treaty will create a new role of permanent EU President. Tony Blair’s speech in Paris on 12th January has increased speculation that he aims to become the first full-time EU President, writes Claire Daley. The possible contenders are currently keeping their cards carefully concealed. However, players are beginning to… [Read More]
Reading John Carvel’s interview with Alan Johnson in Society Guardian this week, one could be forgiven for supporting this government on the NHS. He does seem, at least on the superficial level, to get it. It’s funny how every recent Secretary of State for Health has gone into the job with a very ‘nicey-nicey’ approach… [Read More]