More Thoughts From The Western Isles

Has Farage been put back in his box?

Everybody thought the Brexit Party was on a landslide cruise to an easy victory at Peterborough. He promised a shock for British politics. In the event Farage was the one to be shocked by Labour’s surprise win. But when you think about it, this was no surprise. When it comes to winning domestic elections Farage is singularly unsuccessful. He himself has never won a parliamentary seat in spite of multiple tries. Neither has any party he has led. This is not because he is a bad politician. He is actually a champion populist motivator but the causes for which he stands  have a high water mark well below the level of political conquest.

Yet they are gold standard for creating political upset. Farage now has the power to make it impossible for the Tories to win a general election. Neutralising that power will become a primary focus of the post May government. As always the poisoned chalice of Brexit continues the be the only drinking vessel for a troubled country in changing times.

BBC charges the over 75’s

All my life the BBC has been a essential feature of everyday life. I can even recall hearing the news being read on the Home Service and listened to with great attention by the grown ups during WW2. I have also supported the licence fee and after an adult lifetime of payment felt I had earned the freedom from liability when I passed 75. Note the word liability. Everybody who had a broadcasting receiving instrument, in other words a radio or TV was liable, in return for which the government, through the BBC, provided the content free. It worked well, but now its time has passed. It is essential that the BBC have the right to charge for their service. It is also essential that consumers have the right to opt out of paying for it and receiving it.

By making that choice they should not be liable to criminal prosecution for receiving an alternative for which they pay either by watching advertising or by subscription. In other words the BBC should become a subscription service. No subscriptions, no money. Real life. There are now so many alternatives to choose from the whole concept is way past its sell by date. It was so good in its day. Like so many good things, the time comes when it is over.

The Tory Leader

The only two who are credible as future prime ministers are Boris the showman, or Rory (Stewart), the brains. The Tory party needs a showman. The country needs the brains. The rest are rubbish.