Thursday 6 May 2010

Finally, before you place your cross today....

A remimder:

The Treaty of Lisbon (initially known as the Reform Treaty) is a treaty that was signed by the European Union (EU) member states on 13 December 2007, and entered into force on 1 December 2009. It amends the Treaty on European Union (TEU, Maastricht; 1992) and the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC, Rome; 1957). In this process, the TEC was renamed to Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).

Of which Article 288 states:

A regulation shall have general application. It shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

A directive shall be binding, as to the result to be achieved, upon each Member State to which it is addressed, but shall leave to the national authorities the choice of form and methods.

A decision shall be binding in its entirety. A decision which specifies those to whom it is addressed shall be binding only on them.

Recommendations and opinions shall have no binding force.

Wednesday 5 May 2010

It's nearly time......

You should vote for UKIP for North East Fife because our policies would

• End the poverty trap with the combination of benefits and income tax plans
• Make no cuts in NHS frontline services
• Move to a universal non means tested Citizen’s Pension of £130 pw each
• Invest £1.5bn in new social housing immediately we are free of the EU
• Invest £3bn in the UK’s road and railway infrastructure
• Introduce binding local referenda on important major planning decisions
• End undemocratic planning targets in favour of local decision-making
• Old railway lines to be re-opened: a chance for St Andrews rail link.
• Abolish the Scottish Reporter: Local Referenda have final say.
• Bring RAF up to strength with extra 6,000 personnel
• Buy C17s, add 50 more Typhoons.
• Enlarge the tanker fleet
• Buy more helicopters and put Maritime Patrol aircraft back on track.


You should vote for me as I have shown my commitment as a long standing councillor and I am the only candidate who cares enough for North East Fife to have made my home here. I will work as ever without fear or favour.

Sunday 2 May 2010

Candidate Briggs (Con)

Miles Briggs (con), in his election address, a "record of action" in North East Fife, says "I believe we live in one of the best parts of Scotland." Implication?

Truth: Miles lives in Edinburgh. What's the harm in that?


Promoted by Mike Scott-Hayward of Sawmill House, Kemback Bridge, Fife KY15 5TP on his own behalf.

UKIP's plans kill the poverty trap - Basic Cash Benefit and flat rate tax is brilliiant!

Why has the media and the fiscal world failed to latch onto the brilliance of UKIP's Basic Cash Benefit and Flat Rate tax plans? It kills the benefits poverty trap.

Here is how it works:


All 70 odd current benefits are scrapped and replaced with the Basic Cash Benefit - BCB - set at the same level as the current Job Seeker's Allowance. It is paid to all unemployed and low earners without any clawback if they take employment. Those on BCB, however, pay flat rate tax on all earnings, whilst keeping the full BCB.

When earnings reach £11,500, the BCB stops but then the personal tax allowance kicks in and the flat rate tax is paid only on earnings over £11,500.

What does all that mean?


Have a look at this (assumes BCB is £60 pw)

BCB........3120......3120......3120......3120......3120......0000.....0000......0000
PAY........000......1500......2500.....10000.....11400.....11500....14000.....20000
TAX........000.......465.......775........3100......3534.......000......775......2635
POCKET.3120......4155......4845.....10020.....10986.....11500...13225.....17365


As can been seen there is clearly an incentive to take work and to build up to full time employment and full wages. The Personal Allowance of £11,500 equates to a full time job on the minimum wage.

The poverty trap would be no more.

Saturday 1 May 2010

Who rules your life?

Some would dispute that the EU is now in charge of most law-making in our country - and are dismissive of those who are concerned about the loss of our sovereignty.

Most folk have heard, however vaguely, of "EU Directives" but many still think that these are simply ideas from Brussels which are dealt with by our Parliament on a take it or leave it basis.

Well, now use the link and discover the new reality of the way in which you are governed. But first, here is Article 288 of the Treaty of the Functioning of the European Union:

THE LEGAL ACTS OF THE UNION
Article 288
ex Article 249 TEC)

To exercise the Union's competences, the institutions shall adopt regulations, directives, decisions,recommendations and opinions.

A regulation shall have general application. It shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

A directive shall be binding, as to the result to be achieved, upon each Member State to which it is addressed, but shall leave to the national authorities the choice of form and methods.

A decision shall be binding in its entirety. A decision which specifies those to whom it is addressed shall be binding only on them.

Recommendations and opinions shall have no binding force.



For the full document:http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cmsUpload/st06655-re01.en08.pdf

BBC misrepresents UKIP on NHS - naughty bias...

The BBC has been misrepresenting UKIP policy on the NHS, purporting that UKIP would cut spending by 1/3rd.

The truth is different: The UKIP manifesto says UKIP would:

Make no cuts in front line services but substantially reduce waste and bureaucracy

Use NHS funds better, by abolishing overlapping layers of bureaucracy.

So, which B in BBC stands for bias?

Mike Scott-Hayward

PS Under Labour, NHS spending has risen massively, effectively by £42 Billion per year, without real benefit. Even common sense dictates that substantial savings, particularly in bureaucracy, must be available without injury to front line services. ‪

Should we revamp the Met Office?

From a barbecue summer to ash clouds....is the Met Office cutting the mustard?

Perhaps we need a review of the way the Met Office is managed and funded. Did the National Air Traffic Service get the best advice before closing air space over the UK? Was there too much of a heavy hand from EuroControl?

Is there a politically correct atmosphere in the Met Office?

The Met Office feeds a lot of information to the IPCC - the source of glabal warming alarm. Is this sane? If the Met Office uses probablity rather reality, as they seem to have done with the ash clouds, is what they pass to the IPCC reliable?