Tag Archives: Eric Pickles

By Jove, Eric’s got it!

Posted on December 12, 2011 by ianchisnall

I have never been a great supporter of the current incumbent of the Department for Communities and Local Government. Eric Pickles is clearly capable of a taking a bit of criticism and anyone who can say on the one hand … Continue reading →

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Can we really call ourselves civilised?

Posted on October 1, 2011 by ianchisnall

There is an old adage which states that the mark of a civilised society is how well it looks after its most vulnerable citizens. In recent weeks there have been a number of debates, decisions or studies that suggest that we need … Continue reading →

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How Green was their Valley?

Posted on September 19, 2011 by ianchisnall

The aerial photograph below is said to show the travellers site at Dale Farm in Essex before the travellers began to remove the scrap cars and develop part of the site without planning permission. Something of the back story is contained in the BBC … Continue reading →

Posted in Planning Rules, Policing | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Two problems – Two solutions

Posted on September 1, 2011 by ianchisnall

This week, the papers and our TV screens are focused on two very different problems involving small groups of people. The problems have no obvious link but the likely outcomes show the great gulf that exists in our unequal society. In Essex a group … Continue reading →

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A new political paradigm

Posted on August 29, 2011 by ianchisnall

Our political processes and structures are about to undergo a period of change as the number of parliamentary constituencies are reduced to 600 from the current 650. However this change will not improve the public attitude towards those who make decisions on our behalf. … Continue reading →

Posted in Parliament and Democracy | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Can we let the public Decide?

Posted on August 17, 2011 by ianchisnall

A great deal of attention is apparently being paid to the views and feelings of the British public in the court sentences being meted out to those involved in this months riots. During Tuesday evenings Newsnight on BBC2, two MPs spoke to justify taking public opinion into account and … Continue reading →

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A Policemans lot is not a happy one!

Posted on August 13, 2011 by ianchisnall

This years Centenary of the death of WS Gilbert commemorates the man who wrote these words as part of his Operetta, Pirates of Penzance ‘Our feelings we with difficulty smother, when Constabulary duty’s to be done, Ah, take one consideration with another, a policeman’s lot is not … Continue reading →

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