PaulRogan

The French President's wife scored a big hit in London this week. Much is also discussed about the diminutive size of Mr. Sarkozy, but wasn't Napoleon also short and look what he managed!

Clearly the French Leader and his attractive Misses didn't have to fight their ways through Terminal Five and it's mountains of baggage. The BA/BAA debacle has done little to promote Gordon's Great Britishness in the world, let alone in England.

PM Brown is presently targeting his attacks on the SNP for being un-British because they want a vote on more independence for Scotland. The SNP retorts, what happened to letting British Democracy decide, in fact what happened to letting the people decide at last years General Election? The English Democrats say, what happened to the promised referendum on the EU Treaty? A good way of making sure you win a vote is to simply cancel having them.

Would Brighouse be better in Kirklees than Calderdale?

The Press Release issued by Brighouse Forward following the Open Forum Meeting in February 2008 is the only written statement on the subject.

There have now been three newspaper articles since.

Huddersfield Examiner, (28 Feb 08 )  http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/local-west-yorkshire-news/2008/02/28/let-brighouse-join-kirklees-says-councillor-86081-20533271/

Yorkshire Post, (24 March 08 )  http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/Row-as-top-Tory-urges.3907402.jp

Halifax Courier, (25 March 08 )  http://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/news/Call-for-Brighouse-to-switch.3909245.jp?CommentPage=2&CommentPageLength=10#comments

A number of comments attributed to me in these articles were in fact not made by me and do not constitute my personal views. Most certainly I am not a ‘top Tory' as stated in one particular article. Therefore, for the sake of absolute clarity I wish to state that I have no personal position on whether Brighouse should leave Calderdale and join Kirklees. Many will know, that if this were to happen, I would automatically be unable to represent Rastrick ward, as I would then reside in another Authority area.

My reading of the present situation in Brighouse and Rastrick is that the electors feel they have been shabbily treated over the past 30 years. That a re-amalgamation with Kirklees could not be any worse, given Calderdale's perceived past record. And, that a change could only bring improvement in the eyes of local residents.

Very shortly now the elector's views will be solicited and they will have the final say.

The Government has declared war on supermarket plastic bags. In the scheme of things, supermarket plastic bags are a miniscule percentage of our household refuse but are seen as a target to encourage us all to reduce landfill and litter.

On the face of it, having a ‘go' at the supermarkets should get public support. We all love to hate them because they seem to want to control our lives and money just as much as the Government does.

However, I fear that basic food prices could rise as a result of this ‘war'. One easy way for supermarkets to control shoplifting is to have shoppers enter their stores bag-less. With growing numbers of customers approaching checkouts with an array of bags and boxes, controlling shoplifting will require more vigilance and manpower and that will ultimately cost shoppers more.

Is the Government making a mountain out of a molehill or have they found a cunning and stealthy way to increase retail prices?

Network Rail has plans to rollout a £1.5billion nationwide railway communications system. For the first time this will allow direct communications between train driver and signaler, which will considerably improve safety, reliability and punctuality. A site for one of the Countries many masts required is located in Rastrick ward in the area of Lords Lane and on the rail side below Stratton Road. Network Rail says the mast will not be used for any other purposes other than their own and that they are in discussions with Calderdale's planners. If you have any views, please let me know on paul@rastrick.org.uk

All the churches in Rastrick, St Johns, St Matthews, Upper Edge Baptist and New Road Sunday School have organized this event as a showcase of all that goes on in the community of Rastrick and to promote social cohesion. The event takes place at Rastrick High School on 19^th and 20^th April. There will be exhibition stands and displays by businesses, schools, voluntary organizations and community groups. I hope as many people as possible will visit and I sincerely congratulate all the organizers concerned for their hard work in bringing this event together.

There is much being said, mostly complaints, about the forced introduction of wheelie bins by the 7 wise Tories on Calderdale's Cabinet. Four of whom are up for election in May. (Byrne, Hall, McAllister & Reason)

Whilst the ‘mandi-tory' introduction of wheelies is important, as too are the much promoted additional recycling opportunities, both ‘wheelie' and ‘recycling' debates are helping to cover up the most inappropriate part of the Tory Cabinet's waste policy. Namely that householder refuse will now only be collected half as often.

The bare fact is that general refuse collections will be every 2 weeks and not every week as now. This is the sting which will cause the most lasting problems. Harm to public health by spreading disease and encouraging vermin. Harm to the visual environment by causing more fly litter and unsightliness.

Whilst English Democrats do not want to see our Country become a 'Wheelie Park', we believe there should be a householder's choice.

Featured Councillor in Calderdale's More Magazine. Builder of swimming pools. Consort of Parliamentary candidate. Champion of data protection. Transformer of Shibden Hall. Champion of Affordable Warmth and Play Champion. She cancels library fines at a stroke and exorts us to healthy living by taking the plunge. Is there no end to her talents? She can even double the number of days in a month. Her time sheet shows she was on holiday or sick for 63 days in January 08. Not bad for a month with only 31 days in it. On the other hand, could be she's either not very good at adding up or not being very precise with how she accounts for her Council time? Oh, and she's up for election in May.

I do not wish to pour cold water on the promotional aspects of the Council's drive to focus attention on Calderdale's cultural and leisure offer. It is to be commended.

I am a little concerned that, in a free market and business sense, another part taxpayer subsidized Council publication could undermine the financial viability of the independent press by depriving it of advertising revenue.

I am very concerned at the timing of this Council subsidized publication, especially as the featured Councillor and the one responsible for this publication, is up for election in May. Not far off when massive campaigning has already started and set to reach a high next month.

I am well aware that the election period officially starts on March 27^th and that the targeted final delivery of ‘More' is 17^th March. However, this is too close to be ‘squeaky-clean' in my view, especially as Party election material is also already being delivered.

Anybody out there receiving his or her copy of ‘More' on or after March 27^th, please let me know.

Outcry!! We are not Americans who force their kids to do this inappropriate sort of thing. It could damage them for life!

I have taken ‘the oath' in a number of forms and on a number of occasions, the first time when I became a cub scout. Personally, I would much rather swear allegiance to our Monarch as Queen of England than to a piece of cloth of whatever significance.

More importantly, to whom would PM Brown want us to swear allegiance when we are irrevocably locked into the United Socialist States of Europe? EU President Blair? Is this Government issue a preamble to a more sinister plan?

Following a number of newspaper articles, there has been apparently a rush to Essex Council from other Councils to find out more.

One article is linked here. < http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/1/hi/uk/7284758.stm >

There are some certainties in this debate. The Post Office, squeezed by falling Government support is planning to close a great many offices. Many rural sub-postmasters are feeling they are underpaid and exploited. Many people, especially the elderly, feel the loss of cash post office services a great burden.

Councils do not have any spare money to throw at new services, especially those which should be funded centrally. However, when Councils have locations, where overheads are covered and staff are already dealing with cash, they could and should look at adding some services which would have normally been associated with a Post Office. This could be a win-win situation and there are very few of those these days.

I have requested that more detail be investigated and know that Rastrick residents have felt very let down when the local post office was closed.

My contacts in France are telling me that their Government is re-assuring them that, on the evidence from England, the proposed smoking ban in France will not effect the viabilities of their bars and clubs. I was further informed that the French public was skeptical and had a cunning ‘Gallic' plan. Rather than have exceptions which allow the law makers themselves to carry on regardless, as here in the Houses of Parliament, the French are considering an exception for local rural establishments where only the owner works and serves. Now that's a bit of Europe worth having!

This week we have the Budget. We also have news that mortgages are costing 9% more and green petrol is up nearly 20%. A few weeks ago Council taxes were increased, now it's the Governments turn. Wouldn't a more appropriate word in English for Budget in this sense be ‘Government Tax Day'?

and should now cost the taxpayer less!

The EU Lisbon Treaty has been passed by Parliament. Much as expected but never the less my heart was greatly saddened when I read the press reports which ensued.

The Liberal-Democrat Leadership is right to be now campaigning for a full referendum on EU membership. However, unless they support the present vote in Parliament to have a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, this call is disingenuous and merely electioneering. If the idea is to curry favour with the electorate at this May's local and London elections, it is quite disingenuous. If the thought is focused much further ahead, at the next General Election, who knows when that will be, or at next years Euro-Election campaign it is but early electioneering.

If I have got it wrong and indeed, the idea is genuinely to enable the People to engage in the EU debate and afford the electorate a choice, then I appologise and hope they will vote accordingly in the lobbies.

The English Democrats stand firmly behind the principle of giving the People of England a voice, not just on this very important issue, but on many more issues.

CROSS OF ST GEORGE BANNED FROM SCHOOLS ACROSS ENGLAND

The English flag, the Cross of St George, is reportedly being banned from schools across England.

The 78-page report, "Childhood Wellbeing", by Counterpoint Research prepared for "Children's Secretary", Ed Balls stated: "The general perception among parents was that it was no longer acceptable to be proud to be English." It said it had heard of "many" cases of PC-mad teachers banning the flag."

It also says: "There was also a perception that it was unacceptable to be proud of English culture and Englishness, which had an impact on their children's perceptions of themselves, as well as their environment (they were not a priority for national or local government spending)."

And:- "Many of the groups, both upmarket and downmarket, those who contained only white English, and those who contained BMEs, felt that it was not longer permitted to be proud to be English.  There were many stories told of how their children had been sent home for wearing clothing containing the Cross of St George, or being reprimanded for having an English flag on their van.  The general perception amongst respondents (parents and carers in particular) was that it was no longer acceptable to be proud to be English.

"[His employer] had a go at me and made me take it in, during the World Cup, I ask you.  Every single other nation was proud to be flying their flag, and they made us take ours down.  What does that tell you about England nowadays?" (Father, Family Depth, eldest child in KS3, Ripley).

And:- "There was also a perception that Health and Safety regulations had also impaired our ability to publicly celebrate English traditions.  The lack of May Day celebrations, street parties and other community events was bemoaned, and blamed on legislation framed for the lowest common denominator."

The English Democrats are campaigning to rebuild our traditional sense of community and for England and the English Nation.

Robin Tilbrook, the Chairman of the English Democrats said:- "This agenda is of the Government's making.  It is only in England that "Britishness" lessons are being taught - this agenda is not really about Britishness but is part of Gordon Brown's "Brownishness" agenda to protect his own career as de facto and unelected First Minister of England."

"English history should be taught in English schools and St George's Day should be England's National Holiday."

"If the English Democrats are elected England will have a parliament over which the English flag would fly proudly every day, as it would over every public building in every county in England."

The whole report can be found at:- http://www.dfes.gov.uk/research/data/uploadfiles/DCSF-RW031%20v2.pdf

Woodhouse area action group is the most recent Rastrick community group to have established a website. It is excellent and most commendable. Please check it out and support the group's e-initiative.

http://www.wacag.btik.com/