BBC shame
I tuned into the Jeremy Vine show on BBC Radio Two, which I normally enjoy, but not today. Mr Vine's theme, if you can call it that, was to seek opinions on yesteray's riots in London, and in particular the appalling attack on Prince Charles' car. Mr Vine was asking for people to call in who thought that Prince Charles and his wife, who was also in the vehicle, were due a duffing over, to remind them of the anger some of their subjects felt over the rise in tuition fees. Mr Vine's normally neutral stance turned distinctly ugly as more and more listeners either called in or emailed with their warped views that it was indeed a good thing that the future King of England experienced a dose of reality. I really could not believe my ears and was ashamed that my former employers - who I used to respect - should stoop to this level and encourage anyone with a grudge to besmirch two perfectly innocent people who were travelling to the Royal Variety performance, which raises money for good causes. Shame on you BBC.
Posted on 10 December 2010 by Richard Drax
Student violence
I was saddened by the violence yesterday. It was the behaviour of the mindless thug. I doubt many of those perpetrating the worst acts were actually students. Desecrating Winston Churchill's statue and plinth by urinating and scribbling graffiti on it only underlined the mindless behaviour of this small minority. One of the problems is that Labour has misled young people into thinking that 50 per cent of them must go to university. Why? It's an unrealistic and unaffordable target. Yes, of course students should aspire to go to university if they want, but not everyone is cut out for it. There are plenty of other avenues, not least getting a job and learning at the sharp end. Many successful entrepreneurs never went anywhere near a university. Yesterday was a sad day for all those young hooligans who only revealed they don't have an argument other than to damage property and people.
Posted on 10 December 2010 by Richard Drax
Weather chaos
As you'd expect, some severe weather has brought the country to a standstill. The finger-pointing has started and the government is the target. The problem is that bad weather is not consistent enough to ensure we arm ourselves appropriately. In Norway, for example, motorists have both summer and winter tyres. The former are hopeless in snow or ice, but drivers in the UK don't have the latter. So, perhaps we should? As for the trains, reliable steam locomotives and diesel trains have been replaced by electric ones, which are vulnerable to ice and snow on the line. On the roads, accusations that gritting was not done quick enough in some parts of the country might be justified, but the conditions and sheer volume of traffic alone are sufficient to defeat even the best gritting efforts. So, for the moment, our best efforts and stiff upper lip will have to suffice.
Posted on 2 December 2010 by Richard Drax
Tuition fees
What a shambles. The Coalition is looking shaky on one of the major issues of the day: tuition fees. I tried to speak on the issue last night, but regrettably was not called. What I would have said is on my website at www.richarddrax.com. Both Nick Clegg and Vince Cable both refused to answer Opposition questions on how they'd vote on the matter. Bearing in mind it's Cable who is selling this policy on behalf of the government, this is a serious matter, politically, quite apart from the moral aspect. My thoughts about the Coalition are well known, and this debacle only reinforces my view. The Lib Dems have a record of promising anything to win votes and now they are in power they are realising this policy is disingenuous and inevitably backfires on you.
Posted on 1 December 2010 by Richard Drax